Adamson welcomes VGs to the Vergence Group

Adamson to announce a new addition to its Vergence Group: VGs, a new benchmark in low-frequency performance for the most demanding scenarios.


Adamson’s new VGs, the second product released as part of the Vergence Group, is a powered subwoofer built upon the foundation of the trusted low-end impact and versatility of Adamson’s E-Series E119 subwoofer, combined with a custom-designed and in-house manufactured, single-channel 6kW Class-D Amplifier with on-board DSP.

Loaded with a single lightweight, long-excursion, 19” SD19 Kevlar Neodymium driver utilizing Adamson’s Advanced Cone Architecture and Symmetrical Drive Technology, the VGs is capable of reproducing frequencies from 29 Hz – 100 Hz.


The rear of the VGs housing a 6kW Class-D Amplifier with on-board DSP.

With an on-board amplifier and still weighing only 72.5kg (160lb) while being able to deliver a peak output of 139dB, this subwoofer sits in a class of its own.

The VGs includes analog audio connectivity as well as redundant and daisy-chainable Milan AVB plus comprehensive DSP assigned and modified seamlessly via Adamson’s ArrayIntelligence software.

Critically tuned presets allow the VGs to be deployed in a multitude of often-used cardioid arrangements including Front-Back, Front-Back-Front, and End Fire.


A turnkey upgrade kit will be available for any existing E119 users to quickly and easily convert their inventory.


Brian Fraser

Brian Fraser, Adamson Head of Product and Technology adds : “The advances we’ve made in our amplified platform have allowed us to fulfill our product roadmap goals. Products like the VGs give greater power and control to our customer base, while also allowing existing partners the ability to extend the ROI of their current inventory.”

Using the ArrayIntelligence software allows for seamless combination of VGs with VGt as well as Adamson’s CS-Series, while the Adamson Bridge provides integration with all legacy ground amplified systems. Powerful features ensuring effortless control, enhanced monitoring capabilities, and streamlined deployments in both mobile and installation environments.


For more than 40 years, Adamson has been a leader in delivering cutting edge loudspeaker technology for the touring and installation audio markets, and that tradition continues with the introduction of the VGs. Orders for the VGs and the upgrade kit can be taken today, with these new products shipping in the first quarter of 2025.

More information on Adamson Vergence group

 

Avolites Announces Three New Avolites Distributors In Europe

Avolites, owned by Robe, announces three new distributors in European countries : Signal in Austria, Prostage in Norway, LSD in Serbia and the other Balkan countries of Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Albania. All three companies are well respected in their regions for service and experts , and also have a reputation for proactivity and innovation.

Paul Wong, Avolites’ Managing Director, commented, “We have been working hard to boost our distributor network with new strategic partnerships worldwide and are thrilled to warmly welcome these three new distributor partners.They will enhance our commitment to users in Europe and the Balkans and continue our strategy to strengthen the Avolites brand’s global presence.”

Signal in Austria

Signal, which has been a top-performing Robe distributor for several years, is delighted to take on the Avolites distributorship. “Distributing Avolites really makes sense regarding turnkey solutions where before we could only offer lighting fixtures,” commented Markus Rathmair, Signal’s sales manager, alluding to the natural synergy between the Avolites and Robe brands.

From left to right: Markus Rathmair ( Signal ) – Andreas Maurer ( Signal ) – Rogier Trok ( Avolites )

He elucidates that while Avolites is already a famous industry brand, it has not been so visible in Austria, but all that is going to change!

“We want to bring Avolites back to the market with the great new products they are launching,” he confirmed, adding that they also see massive potential for the greater integration of lighting and video control utilising Avolites’ media servers in conjunction with their consoles.

He thinks the new and highly portable D7 console is a great product offering “top performance with a small and handy footprint” that will be ideal for installations as well as concert and touring applications. Signal already has two lighting salespeople working on the Avolites brand, and customers will also enjoy all the benefits of their excellent after-sales service and support.


Prostage in Norway

Prostage, based in Oslo, became a Robe distributor in the last 12 months. The enterprise is one of the most successful professional lighting sales companies in Norway.

Prostage sales representative for Avolites, Frode Wold, and head of lighting and AV technology, Kim Erik de Sousa.

The company considers Avolites a great addition to strengthen its already impressive portfolio of quality brands. Their sales manager Carl August Tidemann thinks the ‘co-branding’ with Robe is a great bonus that will enable a full package of leading lighting products to be offered to their client base.

He echoes the belief that Avolites products will be an equally great option for installations or touring and rental / staging worlds.

“The products are innovative and well-designed,” he confirms, stating that they are very enthusiastic about the new D7-215 in particular. He believes that Norway will be excited by the prospect of Avolites and the partnership with Prostage, a company well known for delivering outstanding support from their highly qualified and experienced technical teams.

The Prostage team also sees a growing convergence between lighting and video control and the need to tap into quick and powerful intuitive control for both. They will also have a combined sales department dedicated to both Avolites and Robe.


LSD in Serbia & More

Belgrade, Serbia-based sales company Light and Sound Design D.O.O. (LSD) became Robe’s exclusive distributor for Serbia and Kosovo in 2023 and will now also be distributing Avolites in these territories plus Montenegro, and, with new agreements made, North Macedonia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina basically covering a large portion of the dynamic and vibrant Balkans region.


LSD Team (left to right): Ljuboslav Brnja, Sanja Stepanovic, Milan Scepanovic, Ivan Nesic, Milos Vukomanovic, Filip Mitrovic.

LSD’s initiative and proactivity in introducing premium brands and technology to this lively, emerging and fast-developing market was one of many aspects uniting LSD and Robe in business and spirit, and now there is great enthusiasm for Avolites being added to that equation. “It is vital for us to offer a complete range of solutions for professional users from all lighting sectors, and now we can offer both premium fixtures and control systems,” stated LSD’s Milan Scepanovic.

He notes that they have already received much positive feedback regarding the Avolites and Robe partnership and “expect more integration and developments in the future”. There is the added bonus that customers coming to check out one brand can always discover something they like with the other. Milan feels that Avo’s rep is as one of the most reliable and stable control systems on the market, and he knows that many customers from the Balkans are already acquainted with the OS.

Milan thinks the volume of innovations being presented with each new software release is “impressive” and demonstrates a proper focus on pushing boundaries and providing customers with the best ROI. LSD has already had great success with Arena, Tiger Touch 2, Quartz and T3. “And customers totally get the potential of having access to Titan, Synergy, Prism and Capture software packages through investment in extremely cost effective T2 and T1 dongles,” he enthuses.
He sees Avo as a “great fit for freelance lighting and video designers, rental companies, TV studios, theatres, clubs, production companies and even bands with their own lighting equipment.

More product and general info, on the Avolites website www.avolites.com

 

Astera LunaBulb Wins 2024 PLASA Innovation Award

Astera’s new LunaBulb product has won a coveted PLASA Award for Innovation, which was received during the association’s annual expo at Olympia in London, UK in early September. This adds to its growing collection of accolades which has also recently included a Best of Show award conferred by film-tv-video at the EuroCine expo in Munich in July.


Astera’s head of product management, Ben Diaz on the left, with sales director, Sebastian Bückle.

The PLASA Innovation judging panel commented that LunaBulb “combines a broad feature-set in a much-loved conventional aesthetic,” which clearly impressed as much as it has many Astera customers and users. LunaBulb is also the first LED lighting product to win innovation / new technology awards at both a film expo and a staging / event tradeshow in two different countries.

It is one of the most lightweight professional luminaires ever created, weighing just 81 grams (0.179 lbs) and is incredibly versatile for indoor and outdoor use. Key features are DMX control, full-colour RGBMA and a CCT range from 1,750K to 20,000K and five inbuilt wireless technologies (CRMX, RDM, Bluetooth, WiFi, IR, and UHF), and naturally it is compatible with Astera’s ecosystem.
The innovative and sustainable LunaBulb also supports third-party accessories like 3D-printed shades and comes packaged in fully recyclable, FSC-certified materials with an expected lifespan of at least eight years.


Le prix de l’innovation du Plasa 2024.

Astera enjoyed a very busy 3 days at the 2024 PLASA event, and LunaBulb was one of the stars of the show for the German headquartered manufacturer that exhibited alongside its UK distributor, Ambersphere Solutions. Interest in LunaBulb was intense!
Attendees loved its lightweight design, ease of use, and advanced technology, including the DMX control and wide CCT range. Many appreciated the wireless capabilities and all-weather durability.

LunaBulb’s success is the result of a fusion of hard work and invaluable insights from lighting designers, technicians, crews and filmmakers from multiple sectors. Their real-world feedback has helped shape the product into an essential tool for set, lighting and event design.

Astera’s head of product management, Ben Diaz, commented, “The energy at PLASA was fantastic! With a focus on new technologies constantly pushing the boundaries of creative lighting design, Astera enjoyed a great show. It was excellent to be part of an inspiring event that highlighted creativity, collaboration, and the industry’s future.

He collected the Award together with Astera’s sales director, Sebastian Bückle. Winning the PLASA Innovation Award means a lot explained Ben. “Firstly, PLASA is an important part of our history as an entertainment industry in the UK and internationally, and many of us grew up discovering entertainment technology by researching new innovations appearing at PLASA London.”
He continues, “This award is great because it is awarded by members of the association with extensive technical knowledge and a genuine understanding of the community and what they are rewarding here is not a purely market-oriented approach but the arrival of a new technology that will make users’ lives much easier and lighting designers’ projects much more attractive.”

Ben added that “special thanks” should go to Astera’s technical director Simon Canins and the entire team for their dedication, commitment and contributions to LunaBulb’s development. Astera has previously been recognized for iconic products like its Titan Tube, and Astera’s PlutoFresnel won a 2023 PLASA Innovation Award. These latest awards for LunaBulb further boost the brand’s reputation for producing pioneering lighting technology.

More info on Astera LED

 

Monumental Live Event Launch for Robe iBOLTS in France

Robe’s new iBOLT made its French debut in grand style at a recent ‘Monumental’ event at the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Laon Aisne in the Hauts-de-France. Monumental is an interactive music and visual live experience concept imagined and presented by DJ, music producer and live experience innovator Michael Canitrot.


© Geoffrey Hubbel

He has styled a series of these bespoke performances which are staged in and around some of France’s most striking landmarks. Built in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, the Laon Cathedral heritage site is one of the most important and stylistically unified examples of early French Gothic architecture.
The event’s lighting was designed by Mikael (Mika) Trochu who specified the six iBOLTS, rented from Dushow, which were positioned in an arc around the DJ booth, so they were right at the epicentre of this special musical event.


© Geoffrey Hubbel

Mikael worked alongside video mapping designer Jérémie Bellot from AV Extended and lighting and sound supplier Bendelight plus the Monumental event technical directors, Martin Javouret and Enguerran de la Chevasnerie. They started with site surveys to establish what was possible, practical, and safe to install in terms of production.

Having previously used Robe fixtures, particularly MegaPointes, on other Monumental events, including another show here at this same venue in 2022, Mikael thought it was a perfect opportunity to experiment with the new iBOLT which was launched at Prolight+Sound in March this year.


Challenges included making a BIG impact with the event’s lighting but also complementing the complex video being projected onto the 56-metre-high façade of the building.
Tight, powerful beams were ideal to support for this clearly defined graphical signature and Mika thought iBOLT would be a perfect solution.
Apart from that … he jumped at the chance to get his hands on them and integrate them into one of his designs.

“Working with new technology is always exciting,” he commented, “and the iBOLTS didn’t disappoint!” He thought the fully focused beams would punch out into the night sky remaining tight and intact with no diffraction, projecting far away with its laser source, and sure enough, the definition and sharpness of the beam was maintained even at a 200-metre distance, which he found impressive.

“This linear consistency is critical when lighting long or tall buildings and for wide-angle photos and video shoots where I can maintain a straight pencil-like effect combined with the video mapping which looks very cool, and it worked like a dream,” he enthused.
He added that the iBOLT’s 300mm fat lens size allows larger spaces to be filled with fewer fixtures which is handy for many scenarios. “It’s a next-generation tracer light, free from the drawbacks of blurry beams, and I love it!” he declared.


© Geoffrey Hubbel

While he would have liked more iBOLTS for this event to create more of a cage-like effect in front of the artist, the six fixtures achieved the effect “brilliantly and exactly as I envisioned.” He used them in conjunction with 14 x MegaPointes, which were positioned on the ground and on a balcony approximately halfway up the Cathedral’s façade.

During programming, he discovered a quirk that is also a positive feature which occurs when the beam is fully defocused and opened, it spills around the internal optics creating a hot spot cone at the centre of the open beam, something that Mika found “remarkably appealing!” and incorporated into the show. “It’s an effect I will definitely be using again,” he stated. When discussing it with the Robe team, they acknowledged the idiosyncrasy and are equally intrigued, so it will be staying in the fixture for everyone’s creative benefit!

Mika also used the iBOLTS to create splintering beams shooting off in multiple directions as they interacted with concealed mirror balls, an effect that filled the lower parvis of the Cathedral façade with eye-popping shards of light radiating in every direction to ramp up the drama and energy. He thinks that the movement is quick, responsive, and remarkably quiet for a fixture of its scale and power.


© Geoffrey Hubbel

The show was run partly from timecode and partly cued manually. Projectors were supplied by Leni (Leader des technologies de l’événementiel). Mika also took time to ensure that the iBOLT’s 500W laser light source would not be dipping below 45 degrees, scanning the audience, or getting in anyone’s eyes, especially those sitting on people’s shoulders.

With safety to the fore, Robe’s patented, constantly scanning ScanGuard™ system instantly reduces the fixture’s output if someone gets within an unsafe viewing distance. The Monumental show was hugely successful and yet a unique musical and visual moment for Laon Cathedral, experienced live by over 3,000 spectators gathered on the square in front.

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

World-class gymnastics on the road: PRG turns to GLP for the latest touring production of Feuerwerk der Turnkunst

For the past 34 years, the Turn- und Sportfördergesellschaft mbH (Gymnastics and Sports Promotion Organisation), a subsidiary of the Niedersächsischer Turner-Bund e.V. (Lower Saxony Gymnastics Association), has been celebrating Europe’s most successful gymnastics show, Feuerwerk der Turnkunst (the Fireworks of Gymnastics), attracting attention to committed young talent.


From the end of December 2023 to the end of January 2024, the organisers staged the Heartbeat tour, a passionate homage to the legendary dance films of the 80s, such as Dirty Dancing, Flashdance and Hair. The tour included 36 performances in 22 German cities, with over 200,000 visitors in total watching the energetic gymnastics and artistic shows.


PRG supervised the tour, complete with lighting, sound and video technology, as well as rigging, and was responsible for all the special structures and technical planning.
For his lighting design, Marc Brunkhardt turned to GLP’s impression X5 Compact and impression X4 Bar 20 in order to illuminate the playing area for the artists, performers and gymnasts evenly and in a sport-appropriate manner (it was particularly important, for example, not to blind the athletes during their often very demanding performances).

The PRG team met these various lighting challenges with a total of 44 impression X5 Compacts, the smallest – and yet surprisingly powerful – member of GLP’s latest X5 Series. On the one hand, a total of 16 impression X5 Compacts were used as trackers in the rig, in groups of four in a ‘follow-me’ system, while a further 20 impression X5 Compacts backlit the transparent LED strip.


GLP impression X5 Compact were positioned behind the barrier for a great visual job but in a very discreet way.

Tom Kaczmarek, account manager for PRG, says: “The X5 Compact was the perfect fixture, especially for the application behind the barrier, and also did a great job visually.
We favour these devices for their high performance despite their small form factor, their very low weight, the speed, and the zoom of 3.5 to 60 degrees. Wherever space is an issue, we turn to the X5 Compact.”

A total of 300 impression X5 Compacts are currently available at PRG Germany. In addition to the X5 Compact, impression X4 Bar 20s were also installed behind the LED barrier. “Due to the suspension behind the boards, all the technology was not visible to the spectators,” continues Kaczmarek. “Here, too, the Bars’ compact dimensions were a decisive factor in our choice.”


For more information about GLP Lighting, you can visit www.germanlightproducts.com

 

Ayrton Cobra lights up Milan’s D’Assago Forum for The Kolors

Les Ayrton Cobra lors du concert de The Kolors le 3 avril 2024 à l’Assago de Milan, où ils ont annoncé leur nouvelle tournée internationale.

On March 3, the Italian pop-rock band The Kolors gave an unforgettable performance at the Forum d’Assago in Milan before announcing their new international tour which will touch, in addition to Italy, countries including Switzerland, Poland, Germany, Lithuania, Slovenia, and Belgium.


The lighting for the concert was designed by Francesco De Cave who chose 120 Ayrton Cobra laser-sourced fixtures for the event, supplied by the Italian service company, Agorà.

Ayrton Cobra

Cobra features a native contrast never before achieved by a digital light source, an incredible 0.6° beam angle, and an extreme focus range that allows the shape of the beam to be adjusted to suit operation at any distance XT -Focus™.

“I have already used Ayrton fixtures for many tours and programmes: Eurus, Domino, Perseo, Cobra etc…” states lighting designer, De Cave. “This time I chose Cobra as the special feature in the lighting design precisely because of its double value as both beam and spot.

“The concept of the project originated in a circular design that entirely enveloped the band, an embrace of light that perfectly suited the band’s musical genre – electronic music but with an ‘80s touch.

“The main element of the scenography was a mirror ball from which the band then emerged. There I concentrated around 70 Cobras in a circular manner to create an embrace of light that blended perfectly with the music and energy of the concert,” continues LD De Cave.


“The beam function allowed me to create this enveloping sunburst effect while the spot guaranteed a powerful light output which enhanced the band’s stage presence and allowed me to use the cobras throughout the concert.” The lighting effects produced amplified the emotional impact of the show.


“Ayrton’s Cobras offer a lot of possibilities, especially with their speed of movement and zoom capability,” concludes De Cave. “I had used them previously during Laura Pausini’s tour, and thanks to their zoom I was able to recreate the effect of the crowd’s applause by narrowing and widening the beam in time.”


The choice of Ayrton proved to be a winning one, confirming the versatility and high performance of these fixtures.


For more information on Cobra and Ayrton’s full range of LED and laser sourced lighting solutions, you can visit www.ayrton.eu

Ayrton is distributed exclusively in Italy by Molpass. For information on Molpass visit www.molpass.it

Instagram: @francescodecave
Sito web: www.francescodecave.it
Service Company: Agorà

 

DIGITAL WIRELESS PLUG-ONS AND PLUG & PLAY FROM SHURE

On the Shure stand at ISE 2024, wireless systems were in the spotlight. While we wait for the next developments in WMAS systems, to which Shure is making a major contribution by obtaining the right to use powers of up to 100 mW from the American FCC, let’s take a look at all their new wireless products.

The most uncompromising content creators will be able to enhance their mobile activities with total freedom of movement thanks to the combination of the new SLXD5 portable digital wireless receiver and the SLXD3 plug-on digital wireless transmitter, both of which join the SLX-D series.


For the record, the SLX-D digital wireless systems provide UHF transmission of a 24-bit digital audio signal with a dynamic range of 118 dB, and are compatible with the Shure Wireless Workbench and ShurePlus Channels software. They feature 32 channels per 44 MHz band and a range of 100 metres. In increasingly unpredictable production conditions, even in on-location or touring work, the SLX-D portable systems offer first-class RF performance and high spectral efficiency.

The SLXD5 mounted on a DLSR.

The SLXD5 portable digital wireless receiver delivers the RF performance of the SLX-D system in an extremely compact format, suitable for use on the move anywhere. It also features Multi-Mic mode, which makes it easy to manage and monitor several sound sources from a single receiver, as well as infrared synchronisation, which makes it easy to link receivers to transmitters for instant configuration. Simple and practical, it can be carried in a bag or mounted on a videocamera or DSLR.

The new SLXD3 plug-on digital transmitter turns any XLR source into a wireless transmitter compatible with the SLX-D series. It provides phantom power for use with condenser microphones.


The SLXD3 transmitter as close as you can get to a shotgun microphone for a discreet, lightweight configuration.

It’s an ideal solution for wireless links from boom-mounted microphones. Naturally, when combined with vocal mics such as the SM63L or SM58, it makes an outstanding interview microphone. The SLXD3 plug-on also allows you to integrate your favourite, or simply readily available, transducer into an SLX-D HF system.

Its robust metal casing features a patented locking mechanism to ensure a reliable connection with no risk of disconnection. SLX-D portable systems are ready for immediate use as soon as they are switched on.


The ultra-compact SLXD5 receiver pack, with the battery door wide open.

The SLXD5 portable receiver automatically searches for the optimal frequency and pairs it with the transmitter in a matter of seconds using infrared synchronisation. The SLXD3 and SLXD5 feature bright OLED displays where users can monitor battery life, audio level, RF quality and frequency.

“Whether you’re a videographer, film-maker, vlogger or mobile journalist, the quality of your work may evolve along with your requirements. If you’re starting to be successful, or if you just want to go further in content production, 2.4 GHz wireless solutions are no longer enough, and you’re going to have to move up a notch in equipment quickly if you don’t want to find yourself constrained in terms of quality, range, battery life and, above all, frequency availability in an increasingly complex and saturated RF environment”, explains Thomas Delory, Channel Manager for Shure France.

“Easy to setup and simple to use, the SLX-D portable digital wireless systems combine Shure’s innovation and technological know-how to offer professional, semi-professional and amateur mobile content creators a real solution in a range of high-performance, reliable transceivers at a competitive price.”

Axient Digital

The Axient Digital series now also includes a plug-on, with the new ADX3. Ideal for mobile video shoots or electronic news gathering in complex, RF-saturated environments, the ADX3 transforms any XLR microphone into a portable Axient Digital ADX series wireless microphone, offering the same audio and RF performance and advanced control as the AD3, with the addition of ShowLink technology.


The Axient Digital Series.

Whether the ADX3 is connected to a handheld microphone or mounted on a boom, in the field or on a film set, ShowLink provides complete real-time control of all transmitter parameters, including interference avoidance, via a robust and reliable wireless connection (2.4 GHz with diversity reception) directly from the receiver in a trailer, case, on a camera or in a OB van.

All the power of Axient Digital and ShowLink in the ADX3 plug-in.

“At Shure, we were determined to be able to offer another transmitter with ShowLink technology to broadcast and film professionals who use the Axient Digital system and who may be required to work on major productions or special shoots.

The ADX3 and its accessories, the broadcast mobility kit.

Having a transmitter that can be controlled remotely and being able to change frequency or gain in real time, without having to disturb actors, commentators or presenters, is extremely attractive and crucial for technicians in the field. Especially when they’re on the road and in an environment where the available frequencies are increasingly limited. At the most critical moments and under the most critical conditions, the ADX3, along with the entire Axient Digital range featuring ShowLink technology, offers ideal recording conditions,” says Thomas Delory.


The ADX3 is compatible with the Wireless Workbench software.

The ADX3 is compatible with Shure’s Wireless Workbench® software for quick and easy configuration. With continuous real-time analysis via the AD600 Digital Spectrum Manager, sound engineers can avoid RF interference by manually switching the signal to an available standby frequency, or by programming the system to automatically change frequencies. The ADX3 works perfectly with the ADX5D two-channel portable receiver as well as with the Axient Digital AD4D and AD4 rack-mount receivers.

The ADX3 features a robust metal construction that is resistant to dust and moisture, and an OLED display with an intuitive control menu. The unit’s patented locking system ensures a reliable connection that interfaces easily with hand-held and shotgun microphones, improving mobility during remote broadcasts and on TV and film sets.
The ADX3’s operating modes optimise performance. High Density mode increases the maximum number of channels in the system, while Standard mode offers optimum coverage with low latency. AES-256 data encryption ensures secure transmission and a line-of-sight operating range of 100 metres.
The ADX3 comes with two rechargeable SB900 lithium-ion batteries, each providing up to six and a half hours of continuous use, accurate measurement and no memory effect. The SB900 battery can be recharged via a USB-C port. The transmitter can also be powered externally via the USB-C port or by two AA batteries.

Shure Corporate

The corporate and educational sectors haven’t been left out either, with the presentation of the Microflex Wireless neXt 2, a cleverly designed wireless system that is unique on the market. It’s a plug-and-play, easy-to-use, high-performance solution that instantly equips any room with two wireless microphone links.

Microflex Wireless neXt 2, two wireless links for a hybrid meeting space.

The MXW neXt 2 is easy to integrate thanks to an all-in-one access point that combines a wireless receiver, charger, on-board DSP and the audio connections.
It can be networked or used as a standalone system, with a full set of audio, Dante, analogue and USB connections, to simplify interfacing with a computer, PA system or videoconferencing codec.

The microphones are linked to the access point at the touch of a button. Setting up a complete system takes just a few minutes, thanks to automatic frequency selection. It operates in DECT 1.9 GHz mode and offers a range of 50 m.

MXW neXt 2 base accommodates MXW2X and MXW6X model transmitters.

“When you need, for example, to install two wireless microphones in classrooms, workspaces or small auditoriums for use in video conferencing or otherwise, the process can quickly turn out to be much more complex than you might imagine.

Apart from the number of transmitters and receivers required, as well as the cabling, many questions arise for non-technical users who also need an audio processor and very rarely know which frequencies they need to use.
For AV/IT professionals, the investment in time and energy is substantial.”


“In the end, because of this multiplicity of products, the initial cost is often considered too high relative to the requirement,” explains Enrique Borges, Senior Market Development Manager, Shure France. “Now, with Shure’s new MXW neXt 2, anyone can access the exceptional audio performance of Microflex® Wireless at an affordable price, all in an easy-to-use and convenient format.
“Audio capture and processing are now integrated into an intuitive, reliable and flexible all-in-one audio solution. It’s simple to setup, easy to operate and delivers dramatic cost savings. There is no equivalent on the market.”
The MXW neXt 2 offers a choice of three types of wireless microphone, each with a high-resolution LCD matrix display for monitoring the remaining battery life and the quality of the wireless connection.

The MXW1X hybrid transmitter pack.

The MXW1X hybrid transmitter unit with a built-in omnidirectional capsule and an input for a lavalier or headset mic, the MXW2X handheld microphone with interchangeable capsule or the MXW6X boundary microphone, available in black or white and with a cardioid or omnidirectional pick-up pattern, can be preconfigured to handle multiple applications with ease, and can all be charged in the same base station. The battery life is excellent, with up to 17 hours for the transmitter and boundary mic, and 28 hours for the handheld mic.

With its direct connectivity to videoconferencing systems and seamless integration with MXA multi-capsule microphones, the new Microflex Wireless neXt 2 is ideal not only for hybrid applications requiring audio capture of participants in the room, sound reinforcement of the presenter and broadcast of audio from the remote site, but also for live broadcasting or recording. This feature helps improve communication conditions, promoting a sense of parity between face-to-face and remote participants in the hybrid era.

The DSP features echo cancellation, ambient noise reduction, automatic gain control and equalisation. One-button recall presets for presentation, conference and live modes configure the system so that both face-to-face and remote participants hear everything they need to hear.

Further information can be found on the Shure website

 

SIXTY82 LAUNCHES AMEG GROUP AS ITS EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTOR FOR KAZAKHSTAN

Sixty82, a leading innovator in the design and manufacture of trussing and staging systems, is excited to announce the strategic partnership with AMEG Group, marking them as the exclusive distributor for Kazakhstan. This collaboration signifies Sixty82’s ongoing commitment to expand its global distribution network and deliver superior solutions to the Kazakh market.

AMEG Group, renowned as the premier AV company in Kazakhstan, exemplifies the pinnacle of service excellence and industry expertise. This alliance is poised to set new standards in the entertainment sector, marrying AMEG’s local knowledge with Sixty82’s cutting-edge products.

“We are delighted to partner with AMEG Group, spearheaded by the seasoned Evgeniy,” expressed Fokko Smeding, CEO of Sixty82.
“Their profound market understanding and commitment to quality make them the ideal representative for our brand in Kazakhstan. We look forward to a fruitful collaboration and the mutual growth that lies ahead.”

Evgeniy Davydov, Sales Director at AMEG Group, shared, “Being chosen as the exclusive distributor for Sixty82 is a great honour and responsibility. Their innovation and quality are unmatched, and we are eager to integrate their solutions into our market. This partnership is a significant milestone for us and the local entertainment industry.”


In a move to solidify this new alliance, Sixty82 has appointed Henry Schuil as the dedicated account manager for Kazakhstan, underscoring the company’s dedication to the region. Demonstrating an immediate commitment, Marc Hendriks, Sixty82’s Technical Director, and Henry Schuil recently led two successful seminars in Astana and Almaty, in cooperation with AMEG Group. The events saw a turnout exceeding expectations, facilitating invaluable discussions with end-users about their unique needs.

For more information about AMEG Group, you can visit www.ameg.kz

 

Welsh National Opera sings the praises of MDG ATMe haze generator

Opéra Ainadamar produit au WNO en 2023 © Credit Johan Persson

Welsh National Opera’s Head of Lighting and Sound, Ben Naylor, was delighted to take possession recently of an MDG ATMe haze generator with a digital theFAN unit, both housed conveniently in MDG’s purpose-built Vertical Flight Case.


Opéra Ainadamar produit au WNO en 2023 © Credit Johan Persson

Naylor explained his choice of MDG and this combination of equipment which was supplied by Robe/MDG UK.
“We have been looking for a better consistency of coverage of haze for a long time, as the hazers we’ve used in the past have looked patchy and generally produced more haze in the wings than on stage!
The MDG ATMe with flight case and fan not only gives us fantastic haze coverage on stage, it is a safe and efficient way to tour the equipment.”

The Vertical Flight Case is a bespoke design with fitted compartments that hold an ATMe haze generator (or any of the Me1, Me2 or MAX 3000 fog generators), theFAN, two, 9kg (20lb) CO2 bottles, a 4L bottle of MDG Neutral fluid and a handy tool drawer all in a plug-and-play unit of rugged construction that can be simply and safely used for transportation then rolled into position.


The ATMe, theFAN and Vertical Flight Case were purchased for WNO’s general inventory, rather than a specific production. “We do a lot of co-productions with other opera companies and we see MDG specified on many of the productions we work on.
It’s also noticeable how, over the past five years, more and more lighting designers are asking for MDG products too.”

Naylor and his tech team have been very impressed with their neatly packaged and moveable new products, and with their ease of use on tour.

“The ATMe and theFAN are very easy to use, and, being built into a single flight case, moving them from venue to venue is a dream.

The maintenance is straight forward and having a spare gas bottle and all the spares in the flight case means we don’t have to worry about the gas running out, and its extra safe for touring.


Opéra Ainadamar produit au WNO en 2023 © Credit Johan Persson.

“I can honestly say the ATMe is the best hazer we have ever used, in particular its consistency to produce and fill the space with smooth, even haze. It has surpassed our expectations and travelled well over this last tour. During this season the ATMe has gone from heavy, rock-style haze for our family concerts with lots of beams on show, to very little and subtle amounts of haze for our operas.”

Naylor concludes, “We continue to experiment with the product and where to position it in each venue, but we generally position it downstage in one of the wings and we’ve had no complaints in any of the venues we’ve toured to. It’s really working very well for us.”

For more information on MDG haze, fog and low fog products, visit the MDG website and visit Welsh National Opera

 

Astera applied with Zeal at Neverland Illuminata

Over 300 Astera NYX Bulbs and 80 x Titan Tube wireless LED lighting fixtures dazzled festive guests visiting the spectacular “Neverland Illuminova” Christmas trail at Wellington Country Park near Reading in the UK. This was a special lighting and visual experience concept developed and delivered by the team at show production and technical specialist, Zeal.


Luke Dyson
@lukedyson
www.lukedyson.com

The 1.5-kilometre trail followed the journey of the character Hope as they discovered their imagination travelling through various areas of visual interest with land, features and foliage speckled, coloured and bathed in light that could be absorbed, interpreted and sometimes interacted with live.

The NYX Bulbs were installed in two areas, the first of which was called “Play.” Here they were used in festoon style, strung overhead on scaffolding and catenary wires, and programmed as conventional lights and into a variety of colourful scenes, chases, and effects, boosting the ambience and anticipation of people walking around the trail.

The second area was the “Finale” where they were also rigged in festoon style, but this time had video content played through them transforming them into single pixels that were synched to lighting focused on the trail’s main visual feature, a 20 metre wide by 8 metre water screen that summarised the story.

NYX Bulbs

As the trail paths opened out into this larger Finale space, the Titan Tubes were deployed sitting vertically on floor mounts, outlining, and delineating about 12 metres of pathway.
In conjunction with the NYX Bulbs rigged above, the Titan Tubes had the same video content running through them and the two sets of luminaires opened the way to the viewing area.
As the projection show finished, everyone walked forward and out of that area via another narrower pathway, also outlined with Titan Tubes.

Steve Hough, Managing Director at Zeal, explained how they utilised a “very practical” hybrid combination of wired power and wireless data to run the fixtures around the trail. “These Astera fixtures are a great solution for this type of scenario” he said, adding that the quality of the Astera light output and the intensity of the colours are all “excellent characterisers that distinguish them from other products on the market.”

They specifically wanted a softer and more nuanced appearance to mark out the pathways than something like LED tape would have given. “Titans enabled us to add a truly magical and mystical touch to the ‘guiding walkway idea which we simply could not have achieved using anything else.”
He added that the IP rating made the Asteras ideal for the environment. As everyone knows, the English winter is almost guaranteed to be cold, wet, and inhospitable, although this does not dampen enthusiasm for the growing popularity of light trail type installations like this.

Luke Dyson
@lukedyson
www.lukedyson.com

The biggest challenges of Neverland Illuminova, noted Steve, were the fact that it was outdoors, and weather aside, all the other logistical elements that brings, like long distances to cover, both technically with wiring and data cabling / networks and physically, with walking and rigging lights and projectors, etc., together with the short winter daylight hours compressing the timescale.

On site, they had a month to complete the installation and set-up. Creatively, the galvanising aspect is the amount of detail required in designing the lighting and visuals alongside the fun and interactive parts that enabled people to chase shadows and change the colours of the lighting at certain points depending on their movements, etc. This whole process started being planned in February.

However, overall, the project ran extremely smoothly. It was a massive hit with the public, also acclaimed for its slightly different approach to a standard light trail. “The idea was to present a narrative that offered focus, depth and a bit of a thought process to engage people,” stated Steve.

Lighting, the complete fixture / pixel count site-wide ran into the several thousands, was controlled via a grandMA3 full size console, with video running through a timecode-triggered Resolume server. Zeal, a company that combines imaginative design with technical production, started investing in Astera in 2020.

The NYX Bulbs were purchased from Astera’s UK distributor Ambersphere Solutions, initially an investment for a previous lighting project at Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire. The Titan Tubes joined the inventory in 2022 to help facilitate the look for rock band Kasabian’s tour of that year and Nick Gray from Renegade’s lighting design, which required 243 tubes to dress a series of scenic cubes.

NYX Bulbs: Video presentation


For more info about Astera LED, you can visit the Astera website

 

Jeroen van Aalst Joins Robe International Team as Key Account Manager

Popular Dutch pro lighting sales and technical specialist Jeroen van Aalst has joined the Robe International sales team as key account manager where he will be energising and coordinating sales in several important markets including The Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Slovenia, Malta, Turkey, Israel, and South Africa.


Jeroen will be working closely with the Robe distributors in all these regions, overseeing and supporting their initiatives, coordinating information, ensuring all communications channels are fluid and fully functional, assisting in client relations and exploring new ideas and markets in conjunction with their teams.

Already a well-known industry figure across The Netherlands, Jeroen has made many friends and contacts working long-term for the dynamic sales, distribution, installation, and project management company, Controllux, which is also Robe’s Benelux distributor.

He is known for his positive demeanour, uplifting smile and for being a bit of a technical nerd! Jeroen’s affable personality has opened many doors in business and established numerous lasting friendships. He enjoys both the intricacies of nurturing relationships and the buzz of being a deal-maker.

Jeroen commented, “After 23 fantastic years with Controllux, I wanted new challenges, and this is a perfect solution! I will still be dealing with some of my excellent colleagues in The Netherlands in this new Robe role … alongside my talented existing plus some new co-workers at Robe!
“I am hugely excited to continue working with such great people and an innovative and market-leading lighting brand!” His relationship with Robe goes back to when the Czech company was an aspiring OEM moving light manufacturer in the early noughties, immediately before ‘Robe’ was launched as a brand.

Robe lighting s.r.o. CEO Josef Valchar stated, “It’s brilliant to welcome Jeroen onboard our diverse international team! We will enjoy his energy and enthusiasm for our brand, his human and people-focussed approach to business and his technical acumen, qualities we value highly and that align with our future vision and strategies.”

Controllux’s Marc Frijters noted that he is “happy and very proud” that Jeroen has seized the opportunity to join the Robe international team with whom he already enjoyed a close working relationship! “It is a little sad that he’s leaving us after so many years of loyal duty, but as Robe account manager for The Netherlands, we and our customers will receive even more dedicated attention from him,” concluded Marc.

Benelux has consistently been among Robe’s top-performing European markets. For a relatively compact country in terms of land mass, there is a huge amount of activity in theatre, TV, live events and productions and much creativity. Robe is strong in The Netherlands’ rental company network which has a great reputation for excellence, and the country has a proliferation of theatres, live music, and multi-purpose performance venues.

Jeroen looks forward to growing this and all his other markets. “I will be embracing eight vastly different cultures, learning all their special requirements and taking care that Robe stays in touch and at the sharp end of all involved in the success of the sales and support structures in each one.” Jeroen’s appointment kicks off 2024 for Robe which promises to be every bit as outstanding a year as 2023.

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

Stonex announced as key distributor for Hog 4 consoles in Spain

ETC distributor Stonex has announced the addition of the Hog 4 line of consoles to its portfolio. The announcement establishes Stonex as an important player in the distribution of the Hog product family in Spain.


With over four decades dedicated to professional lighting and stage engineering, Stonex continues to play an essential role in the industry by introducing ETC’s Hog 4 consoles to its portfolio. This decision marks an achievement in the company’s growth and highlights its commitment to innovation in the ever-demanding professional lighting sector.

ETC’s Hog consoles are recognised around the world for their high standard of large-scale, automated lighting control. Their tools are designed for programming efficiency which is demonstrated on the world’s biggest and most demanding shows as well as smaller events and spaces. Stonex will distribute the full range of the Hog 4 line including the Hog 4-18, Full Boar 4, Road Hog 4-21, HedgeHog 4X and more.


Marketing & Commercial Director at Stonexl Paloma Expósito says: “One of the highlights of this collaboration is ETC’s ongoing commitment to improving Hog console technology. Since 1994, Stonex has been an ETC distributor in Spain, combining its experience in the sector over the years. The entertainment industry is constantly undergoing significant transformation, with a growing demand for technologies that are not only efficient but also adaptable to the specific needs of each event.
The integration of ETC’s Hog 4 consoles into our portfolio is another step towards meeting the demands of the future and ensuring that Stonex remains a leader in the lighting industry.”

ETC Regional Sales Manager Konstantinos Vonofakidis comments: “We are thrilled that our Hog 4 product line will be distributed by Stonex in the Spanish market. Stonex have been a partner of ETC’s for several years and have achieved remarkable success in sales, as well as always providing an extremely high level of support and training for our users.
With their expertise and commitment to excellence, I am confident that the Hog 4 line of consoles will be extremely successful in the local market. The Hog 4 platform is one of the best and most comprehensive automated lighting control platforms in the world and we are determined to continue developing it with new features and innovations in the future.”

Pour plus d’information sur ETC, vous pouvez visiter etcconnect.com

LD Systems launches new TICA Series for the installation market

LD Systems has launched a brand-new product range specifically for the installation market. The TICA Series offers compact solutions for any size project that are flexible, easy to install and packed with features that deliver better sound and control.


LD System TICA Media Players.

The series includes everything from media streaming and mixing preamplifiers to a range of amps with different channel and power outputs. There are also Dante networked audio interfaces, transformers, headphone amplifiers and control interfaces.

LD System TICA Headphone Amplifiers

Installers can build entire systems using workhorse products from the series, or alternatively, the TICA Series can be integrated into an existing installation providing additional connections or zones. They’re small, functional, single purpose products that are accessible and extremely easy to install.


LD System TICA Transformers.

“Our DIO Dante interfaces have expanded our Dante portfolio and we expect that integrators will be keen to try these new products,” explains Gabriel Alonso Calvillo Product Manager, Integrated Systems. The DIO 44 and DIO 22 Dante interfaces feature four-step gain control and 24V phantom power per channel. Additionally, all interfaces have signal indicators and can be daisy-chained together.


LD System TICA Dante Converters.

“With the TICA Series we’re also offering several mini amplifier models with low or high impedance outputs,” says Gabriel. “They feature different input connections and simple third-party control options via GPI or voltage-controlled inputs.”

The AMP 205 is a two-channel mini amplifier that combines its compact size with passive cooling and high efficiency. It’s powered by a 2 x 50W Class-D amplifier, features 4 ohm outputs and has a user-friendly front panel.
The AMP 106 T is a 1-Channel 60W Class-D amplifier that can drive low impedance or 70/100V line loudspeaker systems. Its small form is ideal for installers that are working on projects that have limited space, or where aesthetics are important.


LD System TICA Amplifiers.


The TICA Series has been designed for hospitality, retail, corporate and education applications. All the products are extremely compact, allowing them to slot into any project with ease. You can install them under tables, behind screens and in ceilings, or installers can use the 1U TICA rack tray to put four devices next to each other. The TICA Series gives integrators the ability to build a system that fits the exact project requirements with minimal rack space.


LD System TICA monitoring.

LD System TICA RSMP

LD System TICA Tech Room.


LD System TICA Conference Room

LD System TICA Restaurant.


“The TICA Series has been designed for both trained professionals and users that don’t necessarily have high levels of technical knowledge. The series is unintimidating as the products are easy to use and don’t have many confusing controls.
TICA isn’t too complex for a consumer, and it doesn’t look too consumer-focused for professional installers,’ Gabriel adds. “It’s a very exciting development for LD Systems, as we can now offer installers a high-quality, convenient and cost-effective solution for a wide range of projects.”

The TICA Series is available now.

further information with:

ld-systems.com/Serie-TICA
adamhall.com

 

Robe North America is Distributing Avolites in the USA

As of November 1st, Robe North America (RNA) is the exclusive distributor for Avolites in the United States of America. The Davie, Florida-headquartered company will provide full sales, service (including warranty related), training, and technical support following Robe sro’s recent acquisition of the console and media server manufacturer.
Avolites USA product manager Brad White and product specialist Kade Behm, already well-known industry wide, will work alongside the very proactive Robe North America teams taking care of all things Avo related.


Avolites USA product manager Brad White (left) and product specialist Kade Behm(right).

Lorienn Cochenour, CEO, Robe Lighting, Inc. commented, “We are very excited to welcome Brad and Kade to Robe North America, where their energy, enthusiasm, years of industry experience and excellent knowledge of Avolites products will be a strong foundation … as one of the most globally recognized lighting and visual control brands joins the Robe family!”
Brad brings over 30 years’ experience and passion consulting on the design and production of dynamic live and architectural events to RNA, the last 10 of which have been dedicated to the sales and promotion of Avolites products. Entertainment is in his DNA!

Kade has been a lighting professional for 29 years and an Avo user since 1996. For the last seven years, he has been Avo’s trainer and support in the USA, so he brings essential continuity, among many talents, to the new structure. Kade started his career in nightclubs and moved on to touring and has lit everything from presidents to royalty, motorcycles to tractors, and everything in between. You name it and he’s probably pointed a light at it!

Brad and Kade will be working remotely and covering different regions of the USA, working alongside the existing extensive RNA sales network. This smooth transition enables Avolites’ existing and new customers to have the advantage of access to greater and more comprehensive resources across the USA that will maintain, promote, and advance the brand and its technologies that have been popular since the 1980s.

Avolites’ sales director, Clive Standley together with technical director Dick Ollett and field engineer Rob Steel first established Avolites US in 1982 based in Chatsworth, Los Angeles. They then introduced the first micro-processor driven concert touring lighting desk, the legendary Avo QM500-90, followed by the first high density touring dimmer rack, the FD20A x72 channel, both truly landmark innovations of the day!
More recently, Avolites has enjoyed steady growth in the USA over the last decade, primarily in the concert touring sector, in multi-purpose venues, nightclubs, theme parks, houses of worship and among companies servicing corporate events.

Avolites MP Paul Wong commented, “We’re seriously excited to be tapping into Robe North America’s local infrastructure and their established team, and I believe this initiative will inject a new energy into the Avolites brand, attracting new customers and benefitting our existing loyal followers in the US!”

Brad, Kade and RNA are looking forward to this new collaboration and to showcasing current Avolites innovations like the D9 full visual control console, the T3 portable solution and the PRISM range of live production tools.

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

 

Robert Juliat Sully chosen for the transition of Chaillot to LED

Chaillot – Théâtre national de la Danse, one of France’s six national theatres, is currently renovating its Salle Jean Vilar. The work is part of a dual drive to improve energy consumption and modernise stage design tools, including the replacement of existing lighting fixtures to ensure an early and carefully considered transition to LED technologies.

Built in 1937, the TNC is an exceptional venue in Paris because of the unique place it occupies in the history of live performance in France with the creation of the Théâtre national populaire founded by Firmin Gémier, and subsequently supported and developed by Jean Vilar. It is also part of world history since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed here in 1948.

Chaillot – Grand Staircase © Patrick Berger

Today, a cultural institution 100% dedicated to dance, in an iconic location facing the Trocadéro fountains and the Eiffel Tower, the Theatre completed the renovation of the Salle Gémier (390 seats) in 2017. It is now the large Jean Vilar auditorium (1200 seats) that is the focus of attention to improve the comfort of spectators, artists and technical teams.

The theatre’s lighting equipment consists of a large number of conventional Robert Juliat fixtures, including the popular series of 1kW 600SX halogen profiles. Since the beginning of the year, some of these halogen profiles have been converted to LED using RJ Sully modules, chosen in a fixed warm white version (650SX WW) and also in a 4-colour version (650SX 4C).


Technical lighting team from Theatre National Chaillot – left to right: Morgane Diedrich, TNC electrician, Romain Bianchi, casual electrician, Florence Salino, head of electrical services and Sébastien Dué, lighting manager. © Robert Juliat

“We attach great importance to improving our technical equipment in line with an eco-responsible approach,” stresses Florence Salino, the theatre’s head of electrical services. “To do this, we are carefully studying all the technical solutions currently available, so that we can support this transition with full knowledge of the facts.

“Initially, we’ve started this process with the Sully modules, which are perfectly in tune with current environmental issues. They mean we don’t have to throw away quality equipment that is still in perfect working order. What’s more, having the choice of sourcing locally is a criteria dear to our values.”

For the time being, the Sully profiles have been installed in the Salle Gémier. Their optical qualities and performance replace their halogen predecessors in every respect, with lower energy consumption.


While waiting for the renovation of the Jean Vilar room, it is the Gémier room which receives the profiles converted to Sully.

Those profiles converted to colour LEDs (Sully 4C) incorporate the RJ Color operating system, which offers comprehensive colour management. This gives users complete freedom to configure their luminaires to suit their working habits and needs.

In addition to a CCT setting from 1700K to 10000K and 300 gel references in its memory, RJ Color gives access to controls for Delta UV, transmission, saturation and virtual gel transition time.
It is also possible to work in direct colours (RGB, CIE X Y or HSB), to favour quality or brightness depending on the mode chosen, or to vary white and colours according to intensity, like a tungsten source to simulate the filament.

The Sully modules were recommended and supplied by So What & Co, an authorised Robert Juliat distributor.

More information on the Robert Juliat Sully range and LED conversion solutions can be found at Robert Juliat website