The Royal Opera of Versailles Invests in Robe

The Royal Opera of Versailles is part of the famous Palace of Versailles commissioned by King Louis XIV and has its own iconic place in French history. Inaugurated in 1770, it was designed by Ange-Jacques Gabriel and is also known as the Théâtre Gabriel. The interior decoration by Augustin Pajou is constructed almost entirely of wood for enviable acoustics and painted with a faux marble technique.


After years of neglect, the venue was transformed by two complete more recent restorations, the 1200-capacity main room was re-gilded in 1957 and the stage and machinery were revamped in 2009. Since then, it has been busy hosting an annual program of concerts of baroque music, operas, and ballets.

More recently, a major lighting upgrade comprising 40 x Robe T2 Profiles was delivered in two batches by Robe France, an initial purchase of 30, followed by another 10 x T2 Profiles, which they liked so much that they purchased 12 x TX1 PosiProfiles.


Hosting 30-40 shows a year, all with varying needs, Marc Blanc, technical director for Château de Versailles Spectacles, explained that the need for extra flexibility and moving lights had been steadily growing. Furthermore, they were being frequently requested by incoming productions, resulting in a substantial budget being spent on rentals. During Covid, Marc also had time to do some calculations and realised the time was right for a general lighting upgrade.

He and his colleagues including chief electrician Thierry Giraud, console operator Guillaume Astier, and some of their regular lighting freelancers put their heads together and identified their main criteria for moving lights. They came up with silence, optical quality, power, and availability and looked at what other contemporary opera houses were using and specifying.


Additionally, Royal Opera of Versailles’ regular technical supplier, AudioScène, with whom they have worked for several years, was consulted and asked for their advice and opinions as well as if they could assist with arranging demonstrations with different brands. The options were narrowed down to two brands, one of which was Robe, and from that, the T2 Profile was selected.

Robe Lighting France’s regional manager Franck Veber noted that the French office and the brand generally has been specified for several high profile opera houses, and for Versailles’ specific configuration, scenography and production schedule, he thought from the start that the T2 Profile would be a perfect fit.

Robe products have also been specified, installed and are proving very successful in a number of opera houses around the world, with references at the Paris Opera, the Vienna State Opera, the Hungarian State Opera and The Baltic Opera in Poland to name a few, and this was another advantage when it came to making a decision.

In terms of the colour rendering, they wanted to see on the sets, costumes and skin. the choice had to be a multispectral LED source, and Robe France’s Vincent Bouquet also answered all their technical questions in great detail which further impressed everyone.
They were further impressed with the manufacturer’s guarantee and the fact that Robe products are entirely made in Europe, not just to be patriotic but also for practicality, as well as the brand’s superlative reputation for manufacturing robust and reliable products.

Nicolas Winkel, AudioScène’s general manager, commented that the multispectral LED source combines red, green, blue, white and lime green diodes to create a bright, crisp white which is superior to using subtractive colour mixing methods which filter white light and reduce intensity.
Robe’s highly innovative patented technology in this field adds the colours and preserves the luminous flux, so when it comes to mixing a specific colour, the corresponding LEDs are illuminated without filters. “This methodology offers an increased precision ideal for the demanding requirements of theatre and opera, where quality of light is essential,” he observed.


T2 Profiles also have an excellent CRI colour rendering index which guarantees a richness and natural quality of light which “is exceptional” says Nicolas, highlighting that currently, Robe is the only manufacturer to offer this type of moving light.

“Choosing the T2 Profile made it possible to renew the stock of equipment needed for above stage coverage,” stated Marc, adding that they have the benefits of “great support” from Robe Lighting France.
The 12 x TX1 PosiProfiles were purchased for rigging in the upper side parts of the auditorium, with no flying or attachment points they are positioned in the architectural bull’s-eyes, which present challenging angles and no room for fixtures to do their calibration ‘dance’.
“The TX1 PosiProfile, is packed with remarkable ingenuity,” Marc declares referring to the fact it does not move during the calibration routine, making them ideal for this position.
Joining them shortly will be 10 x FORTE Fresnels for front and key lighting which will be delivered in the coming months.


Nicolas explained that the FORTE was picked for its power with fluxes of up to 50,000 lumens and with the idea of eventually replacing all the older HMI sources, because they are energy intensive. When offered FORTE Fresnels as an equivalent, LDs and lighting directors are usually very happy as the luminaires have a consistent white temperature of 6,700 K.

“FORTES are more powerful than the HMIs they are replacing, they are still just as quiet, and have a beautiful quality of light,” concluded Marc, delighted that the additional rental budget for moving lights has currently been dramatically reduced.

For more info about Robe lighting, you can visit www.robe.cz

 

New TAF Wall Plate Console : Wall to Wall Support

The TAF Wall Plate Console is the ultimate solution for temporary or permanent mounting of TAF’s FT33 or FT34 truss between walls.

Designed with versatility and ease of use in mind, it features adjustable clamps (200 mm / 7.9 inches of travel) for convenient connection with truss segments and has a healthy 500 kg (1,102 lbs) loading capacity.

Span truss between your walls with full confidence and complete safety!


TAF is a global manufacturer of aluminium truss, support structures and rigging accessories. All products are manufactured at its advanced production facilities in the Czech Republic.
For more information about TAF, you can visit www.trussaluminium.com

 

Tim Goodacre Talks Astera

Tim Goodacre is a busy and in-demand freelance gaffer and lighting specialist based in Sydney and working all over Australia, primarily on TV dramas. He has invested steadily in Astera to help drive his business over the last two years, most recently purchasing one of the new LeoFresnel products from Astera’s Australian and New Zealand distributor ULA Group, which is added to his existing stock of AX3 Lightdrop and NYX Bulb kits and workhorse Astera Titan and Helios Tubes.


He immediately utilised the LeoFresnel on season 2 of the award-winning Netflix Heartbreak High reboot, specifically for a forest night scene shot on location with the Heartbreak High students camping out under the moonlight.

In a different scenario, a moving light might conventionally be used, however the practicalities of the location essentially demanded a wireless lighting solution! Tim rigged 16 x Titan Tubes on a ‘Moon Box’ with the LeoFresnel positioned in the centre, which was hoisted above the action pointing right down with the LeoFresnel acting as a spotlight.



Controlled through the Astera app, the need for a board operator or a complicated and cumbersome setup to run the moon-box was averted thanks to Tim’s foresight and inventive application of the kit. He created different cues and looks which provided excellent moonlight and a cost-effective way of lighting the scene with a clearly defined central lightsource surrounded by shimmering light from the softened tubes which combined brilliantly to produce the effect wanted by director Neil Sharma and DoP Campbell Brown.

For Tim, the biggest benefit of having all this Astera kit to hand is the speed and flexibility with which he can create a solution on set, on location, in the studio or anywhere.

“There is always a need for last minute lighting adjustments as a scene develops or to get light into quirky and challenging positions, and where running powered lights would be lengthy and difficult, so the Astera fixtures emit a great quality of light and are ultimately handy for exterior work!” he stated.

He has also used them for night scenes along roads, in the bush and other ‘run-and-gun’ situations without needing a generator, PD, cables and extensive prep time. He recalls a night beach scene on another project, always a galvanising place in to find lighting positions for soft sources, which in this case were needed to back-light three people.
Here his water resistant LeoFresnel was rigged on a stand with an 8×4 bounce reflector attached that facilitated the creation of a beautiful and ideally matched soft source in exactly the right place.


He’s also used the LeoFresnel on comedy drama Ladies in Black shot in Adelaide, so it’s been an extremely good investment so far. He was itching to get his hands on a LeoFresnel as soon as it was launched last year, and the team at ULA Group then leant him a demo fixture so he could properly evaluate it on set with excellent results, after which he went ahead and made the purchase.

He appreciates features like the long battery run time and the relative light weight of the fixture compared to other battery powered products. He also comments on the good quality of light from Astera products generally as well as the excellent engineering and robust build of the fixtures. “You can see that real-world usage has been thought about in the fixture design,” he confirmed.

Tim will often use his AX3 LightDrops for quick deployment and architectural requirements, together with AX5s and AX9 LED PARs for general purpose lighting of buildings, sets and structures.

AX3

AX5

AX9


Astera NYX

The NYX Bulbs are great for a myriad of set practical applications. Also, for cityscape effects like bokeh dots and twinkling lights in the background, run in festoon style in the distance with authentic and random looking ‘living, breathing’ colours and looks dialled in … just like a real city!

Tim first encountered Astera around 4 years ago initially via seeing other gaffers and lighting professionals using the lights and hearing them talking up the brand. Through these recommendations he started trying the products and was so impressed that he soon moved to using Astera as his preferred tube LED source.


For more information about Astera Lighting, you can visit astera-led.com

 

Fredrik Stormby goes large with Ayrton fixtures at Eurovision Song Contest 2024

The Eurovision Song Contest’s official slogan #UnitedByMusic is applicable not only to the artists and audiences. To stage a live broadcast of this magnitude – reputedly the largest live broadcast in the world – takes huge teamwork and cooperation over a long period of time, even before the artists appear on stage.


Stormby used Ayrton Rivale Profile, Kyalami and Huracán Wash to stunning effect on numbers like this, the winning entry from Switzerland, Nemo – The Code.

Behind the scenes is no exception and under the experienced hand of veteran Eurovision technical show director, Ola Melzig, the production designer, Florian Wieder, and lighting and screen content designer Fredrik Stormby of Green Wall Designs, worked closely with associate lighting designers Mike Smith and Michael Straun to ensure the 68th Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in the Malmö Arena was the most impressive to date.

“As this was the 3rd time Sweden had hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in ten years, we set ourselves the challenge of doing something new and brave that would respectfully challenge the traditional Eurovision concept a little, and introduce a more large-scale concert tour feel to the familiar ‘studio show’ concept,” explains Stormby.


Taking inspiration from Swedish music, songwriting and local architecture, and a tricky request from the producers to put the audience in shot for every performance, the duo developed a stage without any traditional scenic elements or shapes, based on in-the-round layout and using light and video to shape the stage. Overhead a highly dynamic rig on almost 200 automation hoists carried over 200 tons of equipment.

“Most of the lighting design was to work with strong lines of fixtures – not many types – but densely used to give very strong expressions,” explains Stormby. “We could then use many combinations of these individually strong lines of lights and the many automated rig positions to create a very interesting palette.”


Spain entry.

Key to Stormby’s exclusively LED and laser-based design were 384 new Ayrton Rivale Profiles and 146 newly-released Kyalami fixtures, along with 32 Huracán Wash, supplied by Creative Technology Group.


Ayrton Rivale

“I like to approach my television designs using dedicated keylight fixtures that have a certain quality of light to function well as key lights,” says Stormby. “I also like a single type of workhorse fixture throughout the rig that I can use for beam effects, mid-air effects, and to frame in on props or dancers, but can also support the key lighting to fill in as back or side lights. And that became the job of Rivale.”

Twenty automated ‘pods’ each carrying Rivale Profiles in a 3×3 configuration formed the main feature of the lighting design and allowed for a near-infinite number of aesthetic and practical positions. More Rivale Profiles were rigged in the audience trusses, above the stage and around the bleachers.

“I was looking for a workhorse LED fixture with shutters and good colours that was affordable in large numbers. I also wanted good light quality, a narrow zoom, gobos, shaper blades and all the traditional stuff,” says Stormby. “We also needed to be careful of weight as there was so much hanging above the stage.
I saw Rivale in Paris when it had just come out of development. It checked all those boxes and came in a compact, light-weight package which was perfect for what we wanted to achieve with this moving lighting rig.”


Huracan Wash

Thirty-two Huracán Washes were rigged on front of house and audience trusses: “I wanted a wash instrument with shutters that I could use for audience lighting but be able to shutter off the bleacher sections to avoid spill. I thought the Huracán Wash was a good pick because I had this idea that I might use soft gobos – which I didn’t in the end – but it was one of the features that attracted me. It turned out a nice big powerful, traditional wash light with some extra features which was exactly what I was looking for.”

Looking for a fixture to outline the stage design in all dimensions, Stormby chose Ayrton’s newly-released laser-sourced Kyalami. These he mounted on Wahlberg lifts around the stage edges where they could be raised and lowered to define the shape of the stage as required. More Kyalami were rigged in a long vertical line in each of the two 18m high towers that flanked the main video screen.


Cyprus shines under the twenty pods lined with wash Ayrton Huracan in 3×3 matrix.


Yet more were rigged in “the biggest truss in the world!” – a 32m long truss using 62 universes alone which hung in front of the main video screen, completing a ‘football goal’ effect with the side towers.

Ayrton Kyalami

“The Kyalami on the truss and the towers could form a box of light for framing the back screen. We could also lower the massive truss right down to stage level so the Kyalami could act as a floor package or raise it really high to open out into very wide effects, and so many different ways in between,” says Stormby.

“Kyalami was nearing the end of its development when I was shown it, but we could see it was a compact unit with a good strong beam which we made good use of punching through all that video! I really liked the speed of Kyalami’s optical effects. That is what that fixture is about: it’s small and quick, and the prism and frost can be brought in and out really quickly – you can create a lot of different effects with that.”

The result was a design with enough flexibility to create unique looks for the each of the 37 participating countries’ very diverse performances, with less than a minute turnaround time between each song.


Kyalami can create a very define “box of light” with their laser source as seen during the Lithuania entry.

“It was great fun working with this rig because we could position it in so many different places that, as well as giving us all manner of side light, backlight and low lights, we could really play with the lighting and directions of lighting as well. The openness of the 360° stage allowed us to invite the audience into the shots in a very natural way as part of the background. This is when we had to rely on the skills of our programmers!

If we were shooting from one side of the stage, for example, we had to clean out all of the lights hitting the bleachers on the other side to make it look good. So we really produced the show shot by shot to achieve the big clean cool rock concert looks, yet were able to instantly cut to the hosts and back into Eurovision mode again. Eurovision is a cross over between television, theatre and show lighting and I think we succeeded in making the performances look like a big arena show.


Croatia entry.

“I was really happy with the overall outcome. It was 10 weeks of bonkers production but I’m proud of the result and we certainly ticked all the boxes in ‘respectfully challenging the concept.’ I like the fact that Rivale and Kyalami especially are such small fixtures but we can still pull off a show of this scale with them. That’s quite cool.”

#UnitedByMusic goes beyond the artists and creatives, and it took great collaborative teamwork between suppliers and distributors to bring this huge amount of equipment together for Eurovision 2024, led by Eurovision’s official lighting supplier, Creative Technology, and Ayrton.

Creative Technology Group made a substantial investment in 276 Rivale Profiles and worked closely with VIGSØ Denmark to sub-hire the remainder of the huge inventory of Ayrton fixtures. The fixture selection process was supported by TopStage of Sweden who worked closely with the lighting designers to introduce, demonstrate and facilitate their choice of the new Ayrton fixtures.


Estonia gives its all in an unstructured design that stands out for its inclusive geometry.

Emil Højmark, CT Group’s Head of Lighting for Sweden comments: “We’d been looking into investing in Rivale long before Eurovision came along, but Eurovision sealed the deal! Eurovision has always pushed the technology and Ayrton, which has had a long involvement with Eurovision, has always pushed the envelope in product development.

“We had over 384 Rivale Profiles on site and very few issues – it’s proved a really stable platform. The Huracan Washes were similarly reliable and one of the few fixtures we had no problems with at all. Eurovision is a high tempo project with unique challenges, and having direct access to the Ayrton tech team on site made such a difference. They are so passionate and dedicated delivering outstanding communication and support.”

Ayrton joined forces with VIGSØ to ensure everything was delivered and prepped in under 48 hours. “It was very impressive,” concludes Højmark. “VIGSØ did what I’ve never seen before from a distributor to pull this together. All departments worked really well together. It was hard work but good fun and all done in good Eurovision spirits.”


Slovenia entry.

“The collaboration with Creative Technology was great, and it was exciting to be involved in the decision-making process from the start,” says Linnea Ljungmark of TopStage, Ayrton’s exclusive distributor for Sweden. “When Fredrik came to me early in the process to discuss lights for Eurovision, it was clear to me that he was looking for a very unique look – not a specific brand – with what the fixtures could achieve. Ayrton was able to provide this and it’s been really great to follow him through the process from initial idea to final design.”

Kenneth Jakobsen, Head of Sales at VIGSØ Sales, Ayrton’s exclusive distributor for Denmark, says, “VIGSØ was very happy to work with CT on this mammoth production. Everyone involved put in a huge team effort under challenging circumstances to collectively deliver the entire, massive project on time.”

“I think CT carried out an excellent delivery,” says Stormby. “With a rig designed like this with everything in straight lines, it really comes down to the finish of the build to make it look good and they really pulled that off. I’m really happy with CT and I’m really happy with the support from Ayrton.”


“It took an amazing collaborative effort to gather so many products in one place and make sure all was running smoothly and on time,” says Michael Althaus, Ayrton’s Global Sales Director. “Special thanks to Emil Højmark who coordinated the operation, to CT for its huge investment in Ayrton, and to Kenneth Jakobsen, Christian Vigsø and Linnea Ljungmark and their teams for all their hard work. It couldn’t have been done without them all, and thank you especially to Fredrik and the team for making everything look stunning!”

Eurovision Song Contest 2025 Final and semi-finals took place in Malmö Arena, Sweden in front of the massive arena audience and 160million+ television viewers across the three live performances. “They were, as Eva Beckman, Director of Program SVT says, “three magical shows, bursting with creativity, temperament, humour and professionalism. And a more beautiful TV-production I have never seen. I didn’t even dare blink my eyes of fear in missing a single detail.”


Credits:
Senior Technical Director: Ola Melzig
Production Designer: Florian Wieder
Lighting & Screen Content Designer: Fredrik Stormby
Associate Lighting Designers: Mike Smith and Michael Straun
Assistant Lighting Designer (Viewing Room): Louisa Smurthwaite
Followspot Caller: Per Hörding
Lighting Directors & Lead Programmers: Ishai Mika & Dom Adams
Lighting Programmers: Leo Stenbeck, Linus Pansell, Isak Gabre
Lighting Supplier: Creative Technology


More details on Ayrton Rivale Profile, Kyalami and Huracán Wash, and the full range of Ayrton LED and laser-sourced lighting fixtures can be found at www.ayrton.eu

 

Robe is Key to Eurovision 2024

The 2024 Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) was staged in Malmo Arena, Sweden, and was memorable for many elements including a superlative technical presentation which took the show production aspect of one of the largest and most-watched live music broadcasts in the world to new levels of excellence.
Under the show technical direction of Ola Melzig, a team of highly talented creatives, programmers, engineers, network architects and technicians collaborated to stage the first ever in-the-round ESC, breaking technical barriers and records!



Lighting designer Fredrik Stormby of Stockholm-based creative studio Greenwall Design and his team took care of all things lighting as well as co-ordinating the screens content, working in close conjunction with production designer Florian Wieder, and included on the lighting plot were 52 x Robe Fortes, 57 x T1 Profiles and 14 x T2 Profiles.


Robe FORTE

Robe T1 Profile


Robe T2 Profile

These Robe moving lights were used to cover all the stage and Green Room key lighting requirements. Rigged on multiple roof and side trusses flown above and around both these major areas, all lighting equipment was supplied by Creative Technology Sweden together with the video and audio equipment packages.

The show also featured an extensive automation system that helped boost the dynamics of three vibrant live broadcasts – the two semi-finals and the grand finale – encompassing a total of 37 entries. These specific Robe fixtures were chosen for their excellent CRI, intensity, and overall quality of light.

The Fortes were fitted with the HCF (High Colour Fidelity) Transferable Engine module from Robe’s TE series of ground-breaking self-referencing, data-capturing LED light engines that are all designed, developed, and manufactured at the Robe factory in the Czech Republic.

The 1,000W White 6.000K HCF LED engine offers 35,000 lumens and an exceptionally high inherent CRI of 96, making these luminaires perfect for this scenario. The T1 and T2 both have CRIs of 95 and are already well established in broadcast and theatre worlds for optimising skin tones and colours. As well as being utilised for general key lighting, several Fortes were configured to run part of an extensive remote follow spotting system, so they could be called up and activated as needed.


“As with any broadcast show, key lighting is one of the fundamentals, so we were extremely pleased that Fredrik was happy to work with these Robe fixtures,” commented Emil Hojmark, CT’s head of lighting for North Europe, who co-ordinated the lighting production. He added that they received “great support from Robe’s technical team” throughout the event period.
The load in at Malmo Arena – which also staged ESC in 2013 – started on April 3rd and was preceded by four days’ prep at CT’s warehouse in Malmo, used as a production hub for all the equipment procurement and provisioning.


Fredrik’s programming team included lead programmer for effects lighting Ishai Mika, lead programmer for key lighting Dom Adams, plus Isak Gabre, Linus Pansell and Leo Stenbeck. The assistant lighting designer was Louisa Smurthwaite (who was follow spot caller for the 2023 event in the UK) and the two associate LDs were Mike Smith and Michael Straun who worked in day and night shifts during the five-week rehearsal and development period.



Eurovision 2024 was won by Switzerland’s Nemo with their song “The Code”, closely beating Croatia’s Baby Lasagne with “Rim Tim Tagi Dim”, with Ukraine’s Alonya Alonya & Jerry Heil in third place with “Theresa & Maria”.
The 68th Eurovision Song Contest was organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Sveriges Television (SVT) and was presented in Sweden for the seventh time.

For more information about Robe lighting, you can visit www.robe.cz

 

ETC Announces Important Software Releases for Hog 4 OS

ETC announces two software releases for the Hog 4 console’s operating system. Hog 4 OS v3.21 and v4.1 are the bridging releases with export/import features to get old show files into Hog desks running v4.x software.


Senior Product Manager Sarah Clausen commented, “We recognize the value of our users’ hard work overtime and the cost of having to recreate shows to move forward with Hog into the future. These two releases create the bridge needed to bring older show data into the v4 world and beyond.”
Hog OS v3.21 is required for users that wish to import / export existing show files. Show files can now be exported to an XML format which allows for easier transitions between software versions where show file compatibility may be limited. Section 4.12 of the Hog OS v3.21 help manual offers details on how to use the Show Import/Export feature.

Additional features in v3.21 include cloning per type palette rules for fixtures when change type is used and a dedicated timecode frame rate option for lists. Additional details are available in the release notes and help manual.
Hog OS v4.1. facilitates importation from exported v3.21 data into v4.x OS. Please note that some show cleanup will likely be needed, especially in situations where colors are stored in a non-native color system for a fixture. Section 4.12 of the Hog OS v4.1help manual also has the most up to date details on how to use the Show Import/Export feature.


Additionally, in v4.1, the SPD view of the physical tab in the Colour Picker Window has been simplified by removing the selected emitter info section and Locked Physical Function tray area, and a new “optimize palettes” button has been added to the show manager window.
Pressing this button starts a background task that scans all the palettes in the show for repeated per fixture values and rolls them up to per type rules when possible. This is intended to improve performance in editors and playback and improve palette editing overall.

For more information, you can visit www.etcconnect.com/Products/Live-Events/Hog-4

 

Andrea Bocelli Takes Two DiGiCo Quantum852 On Tour

Most artists of significant stature will name their tours, perhaps inspirationally, perhaps whimsically. Andrea Bocelli, the 11-time Grammy Award-nominated singer whose oeuvre comfortably straddles classic opera, romantic pop, and Latino genres, needed only a couple of letters and numbers to moniker his most recent sojourn:
AB30 his initials and the number of years he’s recorded and traveled the world touring. And even that abbreviated signature is simply shorthand for millions of fans who just say “Andrea!”


On the current tour, which crossed North America in February and April, including Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Toronto, Montreal, and Detroit, with a brief stop in Brazil in May before heading to Europe from July through November, will ultimately return to the US in December. Throughout, Bocelli has been accompanied by 60-plus-piece orchestras, often some of the flagships of their respective regions, such as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Indiana Symphony Orchestra, all conducted by Maestro Steven Mercurio.

Equally impressive are the two new DiGiCo Quantum852 mixing consoles traveling with the tour, which also includes a full band and 60-voice choir. The two consoles, representing the latest iteration of DiGiCo’s acclaimed Quantum series, were supplied to Andrea Bocelli’s audio team as part of a complete production package by OSA International, Inc.


“Upon seeing the Quantum852 we knew it was the best choice for both the artist and OSA. Nothing else touches it and we’re proud to have some of the first in the US,” says OSA Executive VP Carmen Educate. “Adding the Quantum852 desks to our locations in Las Vegas, Nashville, and Chicago is a ‘win’ for our clients and these world-class desks perfectly complement the top-tier equipment and services that we proudly offer.”

For the AB30 tour, both desks are used for front-of-house mixing

One for mixing the orchestra which ran to 68 musicians for the São Paolo dates in May helmed by Stefano Serpagli, and the other for the overall mix, managed by Davide Lombardi. He takes Serpagli’s mix and blends it with the band used for the more pop and Latin numbers choir, some occasional playback tracks from Pro Tools, and ultimately Bocelli’s magnificent vocals. In addition to all of that, the two consoles also provide all of the onstage monitoring required.

“I come from a pop background, but I’ve also done some classical music before, and I love it,” says Stefano Serpagli, who has previously mixed live sound for Natalie Imbruglia and Dido. “The complexity with orchestras is that there’s a large number of live mics and musicians, and it’s all about the subtleties and finding the right balance.


Stefano Serpagli, en charge du premix des orchestres symphoniques.

There are also differences between orchestras: you can go from the London Philharmonic, obviously so well drilled, and then we have a young and enthusiastic orchestra like São Paulo’s. The difference can be huge from what you get out right out of the box.

And even a great orchestra will just give you a good starting point; the challenge is the difference in environments we encounter. Bocelli is an arena- and stadium-sized artist, and so you’re dealing with the subtleties and the complexities of mixing an orchestra in environments like these.”

Serpagli says the Quantum852 has taken what had already been his choice for mixing orchestras to the next level. “I’ve been a DiGiCo user since the D5 and then into the SD-Range, and I love how it has progressed with regards to onboard dynamics and then came the Quantums,” he says. “We’ve used the Quantum338 and the Quantum7, which was previously my favorite work surface with its central bank of faders easily at hand.

But the Quantum852 is its own category! It has a huge, intuitive surface that is absolutely incredible to work on. There are no compromises on this console. I can have whatever I want and as much of it as I want. And although I was already impressed with the clarity of the Quantum7’s screens, the Quantum852 makes visibility and control even better.”

He’s also a huge fan of the Quantum processing. “I use the Chilli 6 [six-band, dynamic multiband compressor] across each section of the orchestra to help me smooth it out,” he says. “For instance, the younger orchestras may have more attack, dynamically speaking, and it lets me deliver a smoother result for Davide to mix in with the other vocals and the rest of the show.”


Davide Lombardi, superviseur audio, sound designer et ingé de mixage pour cette tournée de Bocelli.

Davide Lombardi has worked with Bocelli since 2009 and has the role of audio supervisor, as well as sound designer and co-FOH engineer for this tour. He has also enjoyed employing the progressively more powerful Quantum processing during his time with Bocelli. “The Quantum852 is a natural progression to the future, with bigger screens and extra power,” he says.

“That really helps because we also do stage monitoring from out front, and the availability of the Spice Rack and Nodal Processing offer us excellent tools for that. We can have as many as we need, and we can automate them, so we can cover both monitors and front of house at the same time. There is not a large amount of monitoring onstage, but what there is needs to be very precise, and Quantum852 makes it very easy for us to be able to do different cues for different sets.”

Lombardi is managing 158 channels of audio for each show, including the mix sent over from Serpagli’s Quantum852 console and Bocelli’s vocals from the Schoeps Mk21 microphone capsule on his DPA headset, which passes through the 32-bit Stadius mic preamps on the DiGiCo SD-Rack onstage. “The Quantum852 lets me lay out the console exactly the way I need to manage the show,” he says. “That’s something else that DiGiCo has gotten right—every new console model is more ergonomic than the one before. I can only imagine what they’ll think of next.”


More information on Andrea Bocelli’s upcoming tour itinerary at www.andreabocelli.com

OSA International can be found online at www.osacorp.com

Everything about the Quantum852 with digico.biz/consoles/quantum852

 

SGM P3 VISION: PIXELS AND TALENT

The video LED matrix.

Its pixel array in addition to the wash source, full connectivity, its ultra-compact size and the possibility of assembling multiple units into a matrix made us want to put the P3 Vision through its paces on the SoundLightUp test bench.
When you hear “static LED wash”, the first response that comes to mind is “another one?”. But if you mention that the product comes from SGM, interest is immediately piqued, given the renowned expertise of this Danish manufacturer with its already extensive range.


The wash.

If you add to the mix an impressively small footprint, a matrix of pixels in addition to the wash source, full connectivity and the possibility to combine multiple units into a matrix, it becomes imperative to put this beast through its paces on the SoundlightUp test bench.

[private]


The SGM P-3 Vision in the P-3 range

The SGM P-3 Vision is part of a complete P-3 range, which also includes two wash versions: an architectural version known as POI, and a more general-purpose version known simply as Wash.

The Vision model tested here adds a video LED matrix with a 42 mm pixel pitch to the 18×15 W RGBW LED sources that are common to the other versions, in order to expand the possibilities.

The fixture immediately stands out for its compact dimensions: 290 mm wide, 252 mm high and a maximum depth of just 124 mm. Despite this small footprint, the Danes have still managed to incorporate a real handle on the back of the fixture: well done!

Continuing our guided tour of the rear of the unit, we discover a rather comprehensive set of connections. Besides the inevitable True1 format power supply (with loop-through, of course!) and the set of XLR5 DMX connectors, we’re pleasantly surprised to find not one, but two Ethernet ports.


Each connection provides an output/through in addition to the input.

The P3 Vision is, in fact, capable of receiving Art-Net or sACN and retransmitting it at the output. We tried it out using the network directly, without any problems.

To top it all off, you can also control it using a LumenRadio transmitter, since our test subject is equipped with a receiver. And, of course, there’s full RDM implementation. They haven’t spared a thing!

Like almost all their recent products, the P3 Vision is naturally IP66-rated (as can be seen from the watertight connector covers). SGM has taken this protection a step further by equipping it with the company’s renowned DryTech active dehumidification process: an active electrolysis system which, by passing electricity through a membrane, breaks down water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen, before expelling them.


On the underside of the base are the anchor points for omega brackets.

To finish up our overview, let’s talk a little about the different ways of mounting and adjusting the P3 Vision.
Under the fixture, you’ll find the two quarter-turn sockets for a standard omega mount, as expected.


The sides are ultra-smooth for mounting units in matrices.

As for the rest, we’ll just go step by step. We start by looking for the usual exposed knobs for adjusting the tilt of the fixture. Eventually, we find a carefully concealed lever on the rear.

There’s a logical explanation for this unusual (and not necessarily very practical) position: SGM has made it possible to assemble multiple P3 Vision units in a matrix, which means that flat sides are a must.

Aware that not all customers will make use of this feature (despite its appeal, considering this fixture’s capabilities), the mounting brackets required for this configuration will remain optional.

The optional mounting bracket…

It’s easy to see what Vision is designed to do: it’s not intended to be discreet and light up sections of wall, no: it wants to be seen, this little rascal!


… for assembling the fixtures into a matrix.


Let’s plug it in

After giving it time for a quick reset, we fall back into our poor technician’s habits and get to work on the fixture’s menu without opening the user manual. SGM has done its homework, and there’s no difficulty in wading through the menus.


The display and its navigation keys.

We chose the most complete mode, configure Art-Net (very simple), patch, select, send directly to full, and then… Surprise: the beam is very tight.

The P3 Vision on our test bench is the 10° version, with a round field. This is rather unusual for a rectangular fixture, but it’s perfectly in line with the fixture’s ‘live’ ambitions. It should be noted that two other beam angles are available (20° and 35°), and that a set of optional filters can be used to spread the beam widely.


A set of filters and their clip-on frames are available as an option…

… as well as barn-door shutters.


Held in place by a frame that clips onto the face of the head, they can be used to spread the beam very effectively in several directions. We tried them out, and were particularly impressed by the horizontal and vertical versions, which spread the beam perfectly without weakening it: a good way of extending the unit’s capabilities even further. It’s also worth noting that a ‘Star Effect’ filter, designed to add a holographic effect to the pixels, should be available in the version finally delivered to customers, but we weren’t able to try it out.


The projected field without filters.

The field with the 35° filter.


When it comes to the management of the main LEDs, there’s no need to reiterate SGM’s expertise. Of course, there’s no problem with the dimming, and it’s interesting to note that the Danish manufacturer has been clever enough to divide the main LEDs into three columns, further multiplying the visual effects. The CRI of 76 is decent. It reflects the fixture’s purpose as an effect light.

The colours, moreover, have a slightly unusual signature, with a blue that gives the impression of a slight shift towards violet. It’s nothing particularly alarming, however, especially given the product’s clear entertainment orientation.


The colours.


Video Presentation


The Measurements

Derating

The derating curve.

After switching on the wash section of the P3 at full power, we measured the illuminance at the centre of our target every five minutes to plot the derating curve.

The reduction in illuminance after approximately ten minutes of heating was no more than 15%, which is a good result, given the density and power of the LEDs on the small surface area of the circuit.


With the light stabilised at 8,130 lux in the centre (9,580 lux when cold), we measured the illuminance on our target every 10 cm in four directions – left, top, right and bottom – to calculate the flux.


At I/2 (centre intensity divided by two), the area where the fixture produces maximum light energy, we obtain an angle of 11.14°. This angle increases to 22.5° at I/10.
After derating, the total flux of the Wash element reaches 10,850 lumens (12,780 lm when cold): an impressive performance!


The colour palette


Dimmer

The dimming curve from 0 % to 100%.

The dimming curve from 0 % to 10%.



The tests

After the set of measurements, we began testing the Vision element of the P3, which consists of 28 LEDs. Though negligible in terms of luminous flux (but that’s obviously not its purpose), the 42 mm pitch LED matrix is obviously a big plus in terms of the P3’s versatility. Delivering a reasonable amount of power, it is integrated with the main LED array in the most basic DMX modes, and can be programmed independently in the extended modes.

However, it requires 84 DMX channels, on top of the 13 used for the wash source: beware of DMX controllers that are short on universes, as they will soon be overwhelmed. But SGM has thought of everything, and you can also merge an Art-Net signal from a media server and control the Vision part of the P3 independently of the Wash element. A crossfade channel even makes it very easy to switch between the two modes, to recover the pixel section in the console: it’s hard to wish for more versatility.

It’s easy to create highly visual effects, especially since the colours of the main LEDs and those of the Vision matrix are perfectly matched. So it’s easy to imagine the P3 Vision on EDM stages, whether assembled into a matrix or not, as a backdrop on television sound stages or, why not, on rock stages. The choice of a beam angle of just 10° makes perfect sense, and is an excellent choice in the end.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we really like the P3 Vision. Going beyond the simple framework of a static LED wash, it represents a viable and innovative alternative in the current market, where there is a vast and redundant range of products available. Its discreet, yet classy, appearance and compact size will allow it to be easily deployed on stages of all sizes. The addition of the Vision effect to the wash is a real plus, and one that you shouldn’t hesitate to use to make the most of this fixture. Well done, SGM!

Further information can be found on the SGM Light website


What we like:

  • The power
  • The cleanliness of the output
  • The Vision effect

What we didn’t like:

  • The tilt-adjustment lever

Technical Specs

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London’s Park Theatre upgrades with ETC ColorSource Spot jr

ETC dealer Stage Electrics has supplied ColorSource Spot jr fixtures to upgrade the lighting in London’s Park Theatre. Park Theatre is a local venue in north London which houses two performance and rehearsal spaces that showcase a diverse mix of new and emerging productions.


The team at the theatre were looking to upgrade the existing lighting rig to LED as part of an initiative to reduce tungsten and also make a more sustainable investment for the future. ETC’s affordable ColorSource Spot jr was the preferred choice with 14 of the fixtures being selected for the theatre.

The compact yet powerful nature of ColorSource Spot jr was just one of the reasons that made it a good solution for the venue as the theatre space features a thrust stage whereby many of the fixtures hang in close proximity to the audience. The fixture’s built-in zoom capability also offers extra flexibility and makes it an all-purpose luminaire that is suitable for short trim heights and longer throws, ideal for the Park Theatre.


Technical Sales Consultant at Stage Electrics Aaron Porter comments: “Our first conversation with Gianluca Zona (Technical & Building Manager) at Park Theatre focused on what the units would be used for, how the fixtures could help the operation of the theatre, improve the tools for incoming designers and teams, as well as what units make sense financially.
The team at Park Theatre were keen to have ETC fixtures in the venue as they are well-known to incoming companies and designers, and ETC has a history of producing excellent products for theatres, making it a solid investment.

“Ultimately ColorSource Spot jr was the unit of choice. We went with the original array of fixtures as the units will mostly be used to light people and would need better neutral tones rather than deep saturate colours. In addition to this, because of the price point, more units were purchased which allows more versatility within the space.”


ETC Associate Regional Sales Manager for the UK & Ireland Matt Cowles comments: “It was great working together with Stage Electrics and Park Theatre to find the best solution for the needs of the space and ensure there was a quick turnaround with delivering.
The cost-effective ColorSource Spot jr is a great addition to ETC’s ColorSource family of fixtures, and like the others in the range, it offers a great feature set, colors and dimming at a very affordable price point. We’re thrilled to see it at the Park Theatre and have plenty more stock on our shelves to share!”

Aaron Porter adds: “The theatre had a big fundraising event where they wanted to use the new fixtures. Working closely with ETC, all units were delivered, installed and ready to go around two weeks after the order confirmation. It was great to be able to deliver this project on-time and within budget.”

For more information on ColorSource Spot jr visit etcconnect.com

The Other Side, the first L-ISA Spatial Audio Nightclub

Located in a former bicycle workshop that’s been transformed into a nightclub as well as a record label and agency representing DJs and producers, The Other Side has put itself squarely at the forefront of European nightlife with its new L ISA spatial audio system.


The world’s first nightclub to offer an L-ISA immersive experience, The Other Side’s main, 900-capacity room boasts a fully immersive 14.1.5 L-ISA configuration designed to wrap the audience in a 360-degree auditory experience. The system offers a unique and creative palette for artists and takes the nightclub experience to a whole new level for revelers.

“If you start a club like this, the main product has to be sound.”

Doeshka Vrede and Jasper Löwik, the multi-hyphenate duo behind The Other Side – in addition to owning and managing the club, both are producers, musicians, and artist managers as well – explained that from the outset, optimum audio quality was at the forefront of their minds. “The Other Side is a place where artists grow, creativity flows, and self-expression is the name of the game,” explains Vrede.

“If you start a club like this, the main product has to be sound.” The couple has worked with Stefan Liem, sound engineer and spatial audio expert, to ensure their vision. Liem, already familiar with L-Acoustics and L-ISA spatial technology, relished the opportunity to deploy such groundbreaking technology.


The DJ booth and, above it, the central element of the 5-piece Scene system, comprising an A15 Focus and an A15 Wide.

Working with Netherlands-based L-Acoustics Certified Provider Audio Solvation, Liem designed a 5.1 Scene system comprised of one A15 Focus and one A15 Wide per hang. Nine X12 coaxial enclosures provide surround, three each on the left, right, and back walls. Five further X12 are placed in the ceiling for overhead sound.

Two stacks of four KS21 subwoofers are placed on either side of the stage for low-end extension, and two X8 coaxials are situated near the DJ booth for front-fill. The system is powered by one LA7.16i and five LA4X amplified controllers.


Immersive sound turns a venue into a creative instrument

Visiting DJs choose how they wish to use the technology – they can perform in stereo using L-ISA Stereo Mapper functionality, or they can delve into the full immersive capacities and explore the creative potential of L-ISA to the fullest, with Liem’s guidance. “He’s our sound wizard – he uses the space as an instrument,” says Vrede.


“L-ISA is amazing,” says Liem. It was really important for The Other Side to be at the forefront of technology, to bring new experiences to our audience, and to have a high level of involvement from the artists who want to use it. All the right assets were there to get this whole project moving, and L-ISA has been much more stable than other immersive technologies that I’ve worked with. We needed everything to work seamlessly, and L-ISA does that.”

The best sound system in Amsterdam

Looking forward, Vrede is excited about what the future holds for The Other Side and how they can continue to push boundaries.

“Since opening in November, we’ve created a big buzz,” she exclaimed. “Many people talk about the sound system being the best in Amsterdam. It’s a new experience for both the audience and the performers. Everyone is excited to be a part of it.”


More information on:

– The Other Side
– L-ISA. L-Acoustics
– Audio Solvation

 

Robe has A Laugh with Lado Bizovicar at Slovenska Muska Event

Slovenian writer, actor and TV personality Lado Bizovicar presented the 2024 “Slovenska Muska” extravaganza event, staged at Ljubljana’s Stožice arena, the first time in the venue’s history that a 360-degree show had been presented, which bumped up the capacity to 13,000, with every seat sold.

The production and lighting design was created by Crt Birsa of design studio Blackout and Greta Godnic and recorded for broadcast. Crt utilised 355 Robe lighting fixtures in the 500+ luminaires on the rig, from the high-powered Forte to the scenic Patt 2013 plus seven other types of Robe product, all supplied by rental specialist Event Lighting from Ljubljana.


At the heart of this unique production design was an elaborate metal structure, the top part of which resembled a giant multi-level spider crawling through the roof area! This structure cleverly incorporated the venue’s video scoreboard with the surfaces used for production video during the show, and contesting it presented multiple rigging challenges requiring some serious brain-teasing, bridling and mathematics … to get everything in the right places!

It was the first time that Crt had worked with this artist, originally asked onboard due to his experience in delivering high level arena and stadium shows. He and set designer Greta devised a unique high impact look and style for the show to get the artists closer to fans and look as good live as it did for the multi-camera shoot directed by Nejc Levstik, an integral part of this creative triumvirate.

Bizovicar riffed through a light hearted A to Z take on Slovenian musical talent, with each letter of the alphabet corresponding to a genre or a related music artist, e.g. R for Rap, M for musical, A for artist (e.g. Avsenik) etc., as he cracked jokes, sang songs and welcomed a string of guests onstage, from a symphonic orchestra to dancers, musicians and singers all wrapped up in a fast paced all-action romp.


From above, the trussing resembles a complex kaleidoscopic pattern that all fits together with millimetre accuracy! The giant trussing spider in the roof had eight right-angled legs stretching out into the roof void from a 10-metre square box truss which provided ideal positions for high level audience lighting. There were additional trusses at each side of the arena loaded with more ambient and the main key lighting fixtures.

The bottom part of the spider structure sat below the large arena video cube and featured a 7-metre square box truss connected to 8 vertical ‘fingers’ trusses running horizontally down, joined together in the centre immediately above the stage.

Stožice’s winter snow loading meant that the already tight weight loadings were further restricted, so trussing was juggled with the points needed to facilitate the 8 x PA arrays. Some trusses were deaded off and motors removed to save weight and meet requirements without compromising the design. With no time available for a pre-rig and two special lifts in the venue that must be used for accessing the roof structural beams, it was imperative that all metalwork went straight into the roof as envisioned in a carefully calculated risk-to-art ratio!

Robe Forte

Twelve Fortes were used for the key lighting, with three fixtures each rigged on four ‘ambient’ trusses around the edge of the arena. The central Forte on each of these was on one of two RoboSpot systems, so front / back and left / right key lights could be alternated, and specials worked in unison to pick up Bizovicar and guests.

Eighty Robe LEDBeam 150s were on the rig with 24 on the floor outlining each side of 3 x stairways accessing the stage. The fourth side of the stage was occupied by an accompanying musician who was surrounded by 8 x Pointe luminaires.

LEDBeam 150

Another 32 x LEDBeam 150s on the eight vertical truss fingers and 24 on the ends of the 6 spider legs offered excellent high beams and other eye candy effects. This is a fixture that Crt finds bright and handy for multiple positions, and he used them frequently. Another Blackout client, the band Laibach, were gigging at the same time, so between this and their show … it is likely that all the LEDBeam 150s in Slovenia were in use!

Another 24 x LEDBeam 350s were deployed on the left and right ambient trusses where they were ideal for washing the audience.
Six MegaPointes on each of the spider legs were outrigged on pipes, part of 72 of these fixtures which constituted the next biggest group of Robe fixtures after the LEDBeam 150s.


Robe MegaPointe

Forty-eight MegaPointes in total were used at the top of the eight spider legs – 6 per leg – and another twenty-four – 6-a-side – on the four sides of the 10-metre box truss. Like many designers, for Crt, MegaPointe is still one of the best multipurpose luminaires on the market, and he never tires of discovering new ways of using them in a show.
The balance of 32 x Pointes were used on the 4 x ambient / audience trusses, 8 units on each truss, with 59 x ParFect 100s for truss toners covering all the fingers and ‘spider’ legs.

Robe Painte

Sixteen Robe Paintes were positioned on the floor around the stage, chosen for their compact size and big punch. “I needed a good spot that could be close to the artists and the audience,” Crt noted. It was the first time he’d used Paintes, which he thought were “very nice mid-range fixtures.”

A total of 63 Robe Spiider LED wash beams were utilised – Crt loves the colours and colour mixing – running in three different modes, with 5 each around the sides of the smaller square truss, three covering the top section of each ‘spider’ leg, one as static back light for guest musicians, and 16 on the front and back ambient trusses for audience lighting. The final two were ensconced under the stage.

Robe Spiider

At the centre of the stage stage was a hydraulic lift, which started the show in the down position (with Bizovicar standing on it to make his entrance) so the under-stage Spiiders lit the void that was filled with smoke for the entrance sequence.

The Patt 2013s were positioned on the end of the legs in the higher position, with some similar looking scenic fixtures at the bottom of the fingers. Crt decided that he needed some “interesting and cool looking luminaires in these positions that would look good on camera.”

Patt 2013

Tight timing necessitated an amount of pre-vizzing, although it’s quite a conundrum to pre-programme a 360 degree show on a flat screen, so calculated adaptation was needed once on site, and as soon as he had the lighting rig, he worked extremely fast, a modus operandi that is familiar! Crt used feeds from 4 cameras set up at the top of the lower tribunes on each side of the venue to help him see the stage from all perspectives.

He worked with his Blackout colleague Klemen Krajnc who took care of running all the show key together with the under-stage lights, guest artist back lighting and the battery of fog machines. Everything else was controlled and run by Crt.
Klemen maximised the Fortes’ highly accurate shuttering to contain light spillage and ensure the audience were not irritated or distracted, which in an in-the-round scenario is as challenging as it is essential!


Everyone was very proud to deliver an outstanding show which received rave reviews. “The team from Event Lighting were amazing,” declared Crt, “they went all out to ensure that I had everything I needed and that it ran smoothly on site.”
Drawing the design is one thing but bringing it to life is another.

“Nothing would have happened without some amazing people and companies involved,” he commented. “Rok Ložar from B-Projekt was the production manager co-ordinating the teams to make this event happen. Mitja Zupančič, who knows the arena inside out, created very precise rigging plots and minutely detailed rigging logistics so that the Prozvok riggers could build and install the rigging and trussing accurately.”

On top of this, Andrej Testen, a crew chief from Event Lighting, assembled a top team to put the whole lighting system together. “We did not have a single fixture problem on the event,” concluded Crt.

For more information about Robe Lighting, you can visit the Robe Lighting website

L-Acoustics Elevates Anne Hamlett to Chief People Officer

L-Acoustics announces the appointment of Anne Hamlett to Chief People Officer, marking a pivotal moment in the company’s evolution. Anne, joining co-Chief Executive Officers Hervé Guillaume and Laurent Vaissié in leadership, places the company’s people-centric education and innovation culture at the core of its strategy and future.

In addition to providing a people-focused contribution to key strategic topics at the C-level, Anne will also directly lead three L-Acoustics divisions: People; Legal, Tax & Compliance; and Education & Scientific Outreach.

The teams Anne leads will cultivate an empowering experience for all employees, strengthen the company’s brand, and create an internal and external education program that boosts the creativity, employability and resilience of L-Acoustics team members, partners, and end users

With over 20 years of experience leading teams at L-Acoustics, Anne has been instrumental in shaping the company’s success. Anne holds a postgraduate degree in business law. Before L-Acoustics, she oversaw contract negotiations for a direct marketing firm and managed human resources for an IP consultancy.

Since joining L-Acoustics, she has overseen the recruitment of countless talented individuals and, over the last two years, has skillfully navigated the company through a 30% employee increase during accelerated growth that will see the company reach 1,000 team members this year. Anne’s strategic vision has significantly enhanced the company’s strength and established a “people first” culture.

Hervé Guillaume et Laurent Vaissié.

“For years, we have valued collaborating with Anne and we value her unwavering contribution to the growth and success of L-Acoustics,” said Hervé Guillaume and Laurent Vaissié, co-CEOs at L-Acoustics, in a joint statement.
“Her expertise, leadership, and strategic acumen position her as the right leader to shape our global workforce, enhance employee experiences, and help define our path forward.”

With Anne’s appointment as Chief People Officer, L-Acoustics takes a decisive step toward future-proofing its success. Anne’s steady leadership and deep understanding of organizational dynamics ensure that the company remains agile, resilient, and poised for continued growth in a constantly evolving industry. Her ability to foster a culture of innovation, coupled with her talent for implementing effective organizational structures, allows L-Acoustics to continue creating elevated audio experiences for audiences around the globe.

“As Chief People Officer, I’m proud to elevate our ‘people first’ culture at the heart of our global strategy,” says Anne. “The People, Legal, and Education teams have evolved into an exceptionally talented group, united by a mission to encourage growth and development for our teams and partners worldwide. Continuing to support their advancement—and the company—will be my honor and privilege.”

More information on the L-Acoustics website

 

Astera Launches LunaBulb

Astera launches a brand-new LED fixture – the LunaBulb. The new LunaBulb will be debuted – alongside a display of Astera’s full lighting ecosystem – at Cine Gear LA Expo 2024. LunaBulb is ideal for cinematographers – for on-camera practicals or to highlight faces with perfect skin tones – and is also handy for events, offering designers, organizers, and décor specialists a myriad of creative possibilities.


The IP44 rated LunaBulb looks like and can emulate the effect of a traditional incandescent light bulb but works like a professional luminaire.
The IP44 rating means LunaBulbs can be used outside, even in wet conditions, if the socket they are screwed into is also IP44 rated, making them perfect for statement lighting – such as festoons – or anywhere where lighting might be used to shape moods and atmosphere.

Drawing just 3.5 watts, the LED-based LunaBulb is available with an E26, E27 and B22 fitting and, like a conventional bulb, screws directly into an AC-wired bulb socket.
LunaBulb is remote controlled wirelessly via the onboard CRMX or Bluetooth receivers using the same tech as any other Astera wireless DMX fixture running via a remote controller or through a lighting console.


Unlike a conventional bulb, users have unrivalled creative control with the ability to adjust both white levels between 1,750K – 20,000K, and color (RGB, Mint and Amber, with HIS, XY and Filter Gel color selection options), providing beautiful, flicker-free lighting in a variety of settings.

This control is built upon the underlying Titan LED engine, which underpins the full Astera ecosystem, which also this makes LunaBulb ideal for wider applications – from enhancing intimate stage performances to theatrical scenes to being integrated with other lighting for spectacular large-scale events.

Présentation vidéo

LunaBulb_LaunchVideo from AXENTE on Vimeo.


It is super lightweight!

Each LunaBulb weighs just 0.81 grams, less than a tenth of a kilogram, while the CRI of over 96 is simply great for natural skin detailing. Importantly, the bulb itself can be converted quickly between a classic bulb shape – ideal for practical lighting – and a slimline bulb, which allows insertion into multiple different lamps and spaces. The conversion is simple, involving attaching or detaching the ‘classic’ dome over the slimline bulb using a spring-loaded clip. Configuration is achieved using the Astera LunaBulb PrepCase.

Holding up to eight LunaBulbs, the PrepCase provides a quick and efficient way to configure the bulbs – either individually or as a group – according to the preferred control option of the user. The PrepCase is also available as a PrepInlay, enabling users the flexibility to build the inlay (without its surrounding protective box) into their own setup, be that a flight case or other custom unit.

Because the PrepCase and PrepInlay are battery-powered, with up to an hour’s runtime or indefinitely using a Titan Tube charger, LunaBulbs can be pre-configured before arriving on-site for more efficient setup and deployment. Each bulb maintains its own CRMX chip and the PrepCase and PrepInlay can be used to auto-assign DMX addresses for individual control or to pre-configure dimming and color, enabling users to integrate the bulbs into their existing workflows.


Alternatively, the box can be used to quickly place the bulbs in blue mode, with control facilitated through the app, which allows for pre-set groupings and effects to be applied.
Astera will be offering a range of purchase options, including PrepCase and PrepInlay Kits, which include eight LunaBulbs, as well as the PrepCase and PrepInlay alone, which are sold with a power supply, but require separate purchase of the bulbs. These different options give users the flexibility to scale their LunaBulb setup as required.


Additionally, both the individual bulbs and the PrepCase itself can also be set as a Bluetooth Bridge (BTB) to facilitate control over the rest of the set. And finally, with a single combo-press on either the Astera White or FX remote, a connection can be established by pointing the remote at any individual light, allowing for at-a-click control.

Combined, these LunaBulb control options assist gaffers, cinematographers, console programmers and lighting technicians to seamlessly integrate LunaBulbs into their wider lighting rigs. Crucially, the lights are suitable for film and TV productions – though their practical design and exceptional lighting of skin tone make them ideal for realistic lighting environments – and ideal for events of all types.

The name LUNA comes from the desire to emulate classic lighting at night with modern control, efficiency, and color mixing. Some of the best human experiences and memories are linked to fairy lights and parties, amusement parks, arcades and illuminated trails and gardens … so these bulbs are providing a very personal artificial style of unique ‘LUNA’ moonlight.


On film and television sets, LunaBulbs can be used for variable lighting anywhere needed with maximum control, and for directors, DoPs and gaffers, LunaBulb further expands the scope and impact of an Astera ‘smart ecosystem.’
For shows, sets and events, multiple LunaBulbs can be used as a festoon effect helping to craft special atmospheres and define mood enhancing spaces.

Ben Díaz, Astera’s head of product management, commented: “LunaBulb is the culmination of many months of intensive development and represents all that Astera is here for: a focus on combining creative control and flexible application with something exceptionally practical, robust, intuitive, efficient, and easy-to-use. “We are so excited to bring LunaBulb to market and can’t wait to see how filmmakers and event designers find innovative ways to apply this unique tool in their projects.”

For more info about Astera LED, you can visit astera-led.com

 

SLU INNOVATION AWARD

AYRTON RIVAL PROFILE, AN ENDLESS REVOLUTION!

With each new product, we say to ourselves that Ayrton has reached the limits of what’s possible, and a few months later, the team unveils a brand new product that proves the opposite. But here it must be said that they have done very, very, very well by offering a versatile and tailor-made fixture for service providers. It wins an SLU innovation award!

With the Rivale, Yvan Péard and his team have managed to combine More with Less. If we compare it to the Ghibli, it produces more flow with a high-efficiency LED source that consumes 30% less, an ultra-wide zoom, and a magnificent beam. It is smaller and lighter (28 kg) but offers an ultra-complete range of functions because it is optimized.

The icing on the cake is that it is rated IP65 and benefits from a continuous pan and tilt. Since its launch in November, Ayrton has already delivered 5,000 units and new orders are coming in every day. Needless to say, we couldn’t wait to test it!


Strength and voluptuousness, one look and you know that Ayrton is in the place!

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The Rivale Profile is the first fixture in the all-new Ultimate series. In addition to the fact that this range heralds a series of fixtures benefiting from the latest technological advances, they will also be as sleek! That is to say, each fixture belonging to the Ultimate range will have the same design and the same proportions as the firstborn, the Rivale Profile. It is a unique and extremely complex challenge that Ayrton has decided to take on. The near future should bring some very good surprises!

The same roots

Don’t be surprised if you seem to see a familiar shape wandering across the stage. There is a family resemblance with its cousin, the Cobra. This design, which for a while was supposed to house laser sources, seems to take a much more important spot in the image of Ayrton, and for years has perfectly mastered the look of their fixtures. This atypical design is a real mix of power and “softness” that we enjoy seeing.

As always, wherever you look, there is no concession on quality. The exterior appearance is essential since, with the design, these are the first two points that will generate the first “gut feeling”. The finish is impeccable and it creates a feeling of confidence. For this, it is important to use good materials. The mobile structures of the fixture are made of aluminum and steel sheets, the heat sinks in aluminum and copper, and finally, the covers are molded in flame-retardant self-extinguishing ABS PC (class V0).

Présentation video

AYRTON – Rivale Profile – Presentation from Ayrton on Vimeo.


Hello Houston, we are at the base unit

On the base unit, the usual handles are no longer there, they have been integrated into the bottom of the yoke. A good idea that purifies the silhouette. Still, to combine size, maneuverability, and aesthetics, a second pair of retractable handles has been placed on the top of the yoke. The seal creates pressure on the entire base structure. To resist, the casing is made of cast aluminum.
Inside, we find everything relating to the different power supplies, high voltage, and low voltage as well as the fixtures’ motherboard. On the front panel, there is an IP65 LCD screen, the display can be turned around. It shows all the options and information about the fixture. On the right, a large round button surrounded by 4 keys allows you to navigate within the menu and configure the options.

To control the fixture you have the choice between classic DMX, wireless DMX, and 2 network protocols, ArtNet and sACN. Choosing the control mode is quite simple, there is only one with 65 parameters. On the other hand, you can create 3 personalized modes (Users Modes) and reorganize the control channels to your liking.


On the front side, a complete menu is controllable with your fingertips, on the fixture, a smartphone, or a light controller!

It is in the “Status” menu that the operator can activate the “Sun Protect” function. It allows the nose of the fixture to be oriented toward the ground (regardless of its positioning) when the control signal is cut. I also like the “Reset User” function to reset the “Address”, “Mode”, “Fan Speed” and “Constant Fans” settings. This allows rental companies to prepare the fixtures reset routines.

The “Defog” mode is very useful for removing fog from all elements sensitive to humidity. To summarize, the fixture heats up and the ventilation increases in flow rate to create a current of hot air and remove humidity. The possibility of heating the head and base up to 40° is valuable when the temperature drops to -20°. It makes the Rivale an obvious choice for winter outdoor events and ice rinks.

I’m not going to reveal the whole menu but there are many other interesting and above all very useful elements. The Rivale also features NFC technology which allows data to be quickly transmitted between two fixtures located nearby. With the Ayrton Mobile Manager app, you can read basic fixture information, such as product name, software version, or the status of menu options.

You can also define the fixture parameters such as the DMX address, its universe, and all other options. If the fixture is turned off, the data will be automatically synchronized upon power on. There are two other ways to configure the Rivale options: via the RDM or the fixture’s DMX channel 65!


No need to think this one out, everything is possible.

If we go to the other side of the base unit, we access the connections. All sockets are of course IP65 thanks to their cap and it is important to keep them closed when not in use, to protect them from dust and other dirt which could cause poor contact or worse.

The first connector is not visible, it is the antenna that allows the signal to be received via the CRMX TiMo™ RDM from Lumen radio. On the far left we find 2 PowerCON TRUE1 sockets for the power supply and its power “out” to another fixture. For wired network protocols, 2 RJ45 IN and OUT connectors allow you to control the fixture in ArtNet or sACN. Finally, the essential 5-pin male and female DMX sockets.

As usual, at Ayrton, it is possible to input one protocol and output another. We can easily imagine that the first fixture receives the Lumen Radio signal and sends the DMX to the other sources (whatever they may be) via the 5-pin female DMX socket.


The special IP test kit.

Between the power supply and the network is the fuse holder (below) and the socket for connecting the IPTESTKIT case designed to test the waterproofness of the fixture or to restore it when it has been opened.
It is, roughly speaking, a compressor with a pressure controller and a source recognition system with a database containing all the necessary values for each type of fixture.
You can’t see it, but an eSIM module has been integrated into the base unit to connect the fixture to the mobile phone network to collect information, faults, location, and much more to come.

We go back to the head, passing through the yoke. Here, no pressure, only emptiness. Finally, I am not talking about negative pressure but about the presence of component(s). Ayrton always comes back to what it has learned to improve its fixtures. To optimize costs and leaks, it was decided to limit the sealed areas to what is strictly necessary. This is why the yoke and a large part of the cooling system, at the back of the head, are not IP65.


Nothing on this side of the yoke.

R&D found a good way to go from the base unit to the head.!


The motorization of the continuous pan could of course only be moved downwards, so it is found in the base unit. That of continuous tilt has migrated into the head. No more “big” motors, they have been replaced by extra-flat models that are still just as powerful. The various connections between the base unit and the head are carefully protected from humidity in sheaths and waterproof housing.


The head is made-to-measure

The “Pampers” division of Ayrton has left no stone unturned to prevent leaks. Each cover has 10 screws for optimal tightening distribution, and their replacement is easy.


Once the 2 covers are removed, we discover an incredible superposition of parameters between which not even a baby finger would fit. We find, from the rear towards the nose, the source and its cooling system, 3 extractable modules, and the optics.

For light source cooling, nothing new. A radiator is crossed by a tube filled with a heat transfer gas. The whole thing is crossed by a flow of air supplied by 2 IP68 fans. This system cools a matrix of new generation 450-watt white LEDs whose efficiency and colorimetry have been greatly improved.

It develops 35,000 Lumens with a color temperature of 6500 K and a CRI of 69. On this source, it was decided not to integrate a lens to erase the “hot spot”. Fortunately, this point was specified to us because even after the measurements, there is nothing obvious on the brightness curves.


The small matrix with big brightness!

The efficient cooling fans.


Next comes, closest to the light source, the color and effects module to help with the fluidity of color transitions and have an optimal position of the gobos in the focal plane. An important new feature has been integrated into the Rivale, previously reserved for the brand’s Washes.


On the first module on the light source side, we see that the “flags” have made way for discs!

The trichromacy + CTO system is made up of 4 discs, whereas previously, the Spot or Profiles were equipped with dichroic glass blades/flags. The increase in surface area gives much more precision in gradation and a much wider palette of colors, including a wider range of pastels. Using discs also speeds up cut transitions.

The disc turns in both directions and the shortest path will be favored. This feature ensures for quick bumps with trichromic colors. The discs also ensure color homogeneity across the entire lens regardless of their position. We find the 3 basic colors of subtractive trichromy, Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow which can be combined with progressive CTO. A fifth component allows you to play on the CRI and gradually increase it to 87.

On the other side, the Gobo wheels end effects!

This system is completed by a wheel of 7 colors which starts with a CTB. The next module includes the effects wheel with insertion and rotation and not multiposition as in previous models.
Then come the 16 gobos which are distributed over 2 wheels, 9 fixed and 7 rotating and indexable: a very complete set for a fixture of this size.

A magnet positioned on each rotating gobo ensures more precise calibration and two marks, one on the gobo holder and the other on the main support, allow you to find a reference position when you dismantle and reassemble the gobos. A lug has even been added to each gobo so that they are all oriented the same way. the user thus finds the same orientation of the images for an identical DMX value. The last important detail a fan enclosed in an aluminum housing brings a flow of air where the parameters and the light intersect.

The second module is very classic with the iris module and 4 framing blades/shutters on 4 focal planes which offer great creative freedom. The plate supporting the blades is indexable through 120°.


I am starting to wonder if it isn’t more beautiful on the inside!

The parameters, the motors, the cards… Everything is optimized to save as much space as possible.


The third module receives the zoom, the focus, 2 frosts, and 2 prisms. The 2 original diffusers, 1°, and 5° are interchangeable and it is possible to stack them. The rotating and indexable prisms, a circular x5 and a linear x4 can also be stacked. On the nose of the fixture, we can admire the 160 mm lens.


All the tools for blurring and multiplying are available!

The glass lens.


The incredible Rivale

It’s time to plug in the power plug. The 2 axes are equipped with absolute encoders and apart from a slight shudder, the Pan and Tilt resets are done without any rotation. The ArtNet connection with the console works without problem and it awaits your instructions as soon as it receives data confirming the power of the new motors. I point the nose of the fixture towards our target and turn the dimmer up to 100%.

I never would have thought that a 450-watt source could produce this amount of light. The beam is nicely outlined, homogeneous, and powerful. When I play with the pan and tilt settings, the fixture is very responsive. It makes rapid movements with clean end stops. Conversely, slow movements are very gentle by combining the 2 axes. On the zoom side, the aperture range is impressive and when you add the iris there is only a thin thread of light that crosses the room.


Ideal optics from the widest zoom to the smallest iris and zoom setting!

I’m looking forward to testing the possibilities of the new three-color trichromic system. The use of discs produces a clear evolution in the extent of the color palette, homogeneity, and transitions. The uniformity of color, from the start of inserting the disc, is remarkable. The beginning of the tint is faster and the longer disc range produces more colors between the lightest and most saturated shades.

If we multiply this increase in potential by 3 with the other 2 discs, we have an overview of the possibilities of the Rivale because we must also take into account the quality of the new broad-spectrum source. Progressive CTO works on the same principle and the color wheel has one CTB plus 6 other shades. To finish with the color, there is also the CTP parameter which raises the CRI to 87.


A tiny glimpse of the possibilities and “chromatic” qualities.

Even if we stay in the classic type of fixture, Ayrton always tries to make the difference with a little extra. The Gobo wheels feature some new designs for additional graphic possibilities. Combined with the two prisms and/or the effects wheel, the possibilities are numerous both in terms of volumetric dynamics and image projection.


The Rivale has been allocated 16 gobos!

This source is full of effects!

We find in this fixture all the finesse and know-how of Ayrton in the field of blade/shutter modules. Management is simple and precise. Squares, triangles, and lines can be projected leaving only a very slight gap of light.

The movements of the blades are perfectly managed, whether at slow or very fast speeds. You can also add the lightest frost to obtain a homogeneous defocusing effect on the 4 blades. The second diffuser is very good when there are no blades, for solid colors or to avoid any marking on a front wash.


Sharpening the beams.

Living in a soft world!


The great joys of science

Derating

It’s time to bring out the light meter and the coffee! After of course having cooled the fixture, we place the cell against the target, we count down and 3… 2… 1… 0 and the light comes out at full power! In less than 5 minutes, the derating reached 7% and then stabilized at 8.55%. Given the brand’s track record, this good result is unsurprising.

The smallest sharp-edged beam

I then reduce the aperture to the smallest sharp-edged beam. It stings the eyes and for a good reason, we measure more than 100,000 Lux, the limit of our light meter! We can nevertheless measure the aperture which goes down to 4.12°.


A beam of 20°

Zoom set for our reference aperture of 20°, we measure 12,200 lux at the center. Our fixture outputs 22,830 lumens. For a 450-watt source, it’s a real revolution! The intensity curve shows no incident.
Colors
We take advantage of this zoom setting to measure the CRI which is 69 for a basic white at 6260K. To show the quality of the source, we noted a UV Delta of 0.0006, a value very close to black. If we engage the CTP, the white is then 5550K with a central measurement of 7,320 lux. The CRI goes up to 87. With the CTO at 100% we have a warm white at 2952K with a CRI of 68.


The widest sharp-edged beam

For the widest sharp-edged beam we are outside of the target with a radius of 228 cm which corresponds to an angle of 49°. In the center, we have 2,035 lux and an average of 838 lux at the edge of the circle. The total flux remains stable with 22,030 lumens and the intensity curve is perfectly drawn!


Dimmer

No surprises with the dimmer curves!



Using them on tour with Jocelyn Morel

Jean Baptiste GUEGAN has just launched his new tour “Johnny, You, and I” in its version “Unplugged’N Roll” which tours through France in 2024 lit by Jocelyn Morel. The lighting equipment for the first dates of the tour was provided by the service provider Breton Audiolite who had deployed, among other machines, an 8 Rivale Profile kit.


A golden opportunity to ask Jocelyn to us his opinion.

Jocelyn Morel : These fixtures are truly exceptional for the quality of their light and their versatility. They exceeded all my expectations. The efficiency of the zoom is colossal, and its great amplitude makes it possible to envisage very varied sets of beams.



This fixture is the perfect example of ultimate efficiency. Whether for projection or volumetric effects, it is undoubtedly a fixture that will count in lighting projects in the months to come at the highest professional level. What a joy to use them!



Watt Else…

Ayrton is launching a new, innovative, and daring range with the Rivale that meets the demands of lighting engineers and service providers. This fixture is at the same time a spotlight, a technical achievement, and a success, it is all of that.
It is a Profile that opens the doors to the future by offering, in a waterproof casing of a very reasonable size and weight, a source that surpasses its big brothers and sisters in terms of light output and which ensures one of the best color spectra.


What we like:

  • The light output
  • The power
  • The weight
  • The quality of the beam and colors
  • The quality of the different functions

What we miss:

  • Nothing

General specifications

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Novatech holds stock of Ayrton Domino Wash in Australia

Novatech’s Ayrton Domino Wash, Domino LT and Perseo Profile are put to dramatic effect by Damien Cooper in the sands of Glenelg Beach for the Adelaide Festival. © David Solm

Novatech Creative Event Technology of Adelaide, the first production company in Australia to hold stock of Ayrton’s IP65-rated Domino Wash fixtures, invested in 48 units, supplied by Ayrton’s exclusive distributor for Australia, Show Technology, and immediately put them to work on the Adelaide Festival.

Domino Wash is an all-terrain luminaire developed specifically for resisting hot or cold weather, wind, rain, hail, sand or dust. It combines a 210mm Fresnel lens with a 6.2° – 75° zoom, and a feature set that includes framing shutters, gobo and animation wheels and the same excellent colour mixing as Ayrton Huracán Wash.


© David Solm

“We’d been looking for a high-powered moving wash light with a Fresnel lens for more theatrical uses, as well as outdoor uses,” explains Novatech’s Ashley Gabriel, Director of Sales and Marketing. “We needed one with enough punch and zoom to handle long throw distances, and a Fresnel lens which was important to us to differentiate it from the other traditional LED wash lights in our inventory.

“Domino Wash answered all these criteria, plus the gobo wheels are a nice-to-have feature for the lighting designers to consider for effects and textures. Being IP rated, we can use the Domino Washes outdoors on large events whenever needed, as well as the more traditional indoor events.”


© David Solm

Novatech’s acquisitions were put to good use by lighting designer, Damien Cooper, on the world premiere of Baleen Moondjan which opened the Adelaide Festival and ran for four nights on the sands of Glenelg Beach from 28th February to 2nd March.

A contemporary ceremony created by Stephen Page, the show celebrated the First Nations’ relationships between baleen whales and their communities, and featured the central motif of enormous 8m high whale bones that spanned the entire 53m width of the stage. Fixtures with enough firepower and breadth of zoom were certainly needed to cover this expanse of set, as well as deal with the challenging environment.


© David Solm

Twelve Domino Washes (6 per side) were set into trenches dug into the sand on either side of the stage from where they provided side light for the performers and washes of colour to the front of the whalebone structures. “We didn’t have any front-of-house towers, and no follow spots. It was all done through carefully placed lights and great programming by Harry Clegg,” says Cooper.

Four more Domino Wash lights and 30 Ayrton Perseo profiles were sited behind the whale bones for backlighting, while 12 Ayrton Domino LT fixtures were rigged on a side tower for higher lighting angles, completing the all-Ayrton rig.

“The Domino Wash has a great wide beam angle, going up to 75°, and I was happy with having a shutter system,” says Cooper. “Plus they’re waterproofed to IP65 which was obviously very important on this production!
“The Domino LTs were excellent, the furthest shot they were doing was 65m and I had six of them hitting performer Elaine Crombie as she walked out into the ocean. It was like a corridor of light shooting hundreds of metres into the water.”


© David Solm

Sand and the elements were the enemy of the production with sand pushing up on to side lighting positions one day. However, the Dominos did not even flinch. “We threw sand, rain, tidal spray and sunshine at these Domino Washes,” added Cooper, “but we had zero problems, just great output. I’m thrilled with the result!”

“Our Domino Washes have been in heavy use since we first received them with indoor theatrical and corporate events following on from the Adelaide Festival beach production,” says Ashley Gabriel. “Right now they are in the centre of Australia in the Outback city of Alice Springs, being used at Parrtjima – A Festival in Light.”


© David Solm

“We are extremely happy with them, and with the service we have received from Show Technology,” Gabriel concludes. “The team there demo’d the Domino Washes and ran us through the feature sets, giving us options while all the time understanding how important our ‘must-have’ criteria were to us. The Domino Washes were just what we needed, and as always, Show Technology delivered for us right on time for this landmark event!”

Parrtjima – A Festival in Light is the only Aboriginal light festival of its kind, which runs from 12-21 April. In this application they are lighting a mountain range from a distance of around 400-600m.

Ayrton Domino Washes illuminate mountain ranges from 600m at Parrtjima 2024.

For more information on Ayrton Domino Wash, Domino LT, Perseo Profile and Ayrton’s full range of LED and laser-sourced lighting fixtures, visit www.ayrton.eu

More info on Show Technology can be found at www.showtech.com.au

Novatech can be contacted at www.ncet.co