Selecon Wing Range wins Awards of Design Excellence
The Illuminating Engineering Society of Australia and New Zealand (IESANZ) recently recognised Selecon’s new family range of performance Wing Wall Washer Floods with two 2008 Luminaire Design : Award of Excellence Awards (one from each side of the Tasman).
The Wing range showcases Selecon’s deep understanding of the requirements and challenges of specialised display lighting with a choice of high performance wall wash floods that offer lighting designers and specifiers the opportunity of using less lights for more light with precision operational features in a single ‘low profile’ design look which minimises intrusion into the architectural space.
Precision pan and tilt allen screw lock off adjustments with reference scales delivering the benefits of standardised set-up and reduced installation and labour times.
One solution, multiple choice! A wide range of light sources (linear tungsten halogen, Halolux, CDM metal halide and compact fluorescent) take advantage of the latest in lamp technologies offering a choice of colour rendering; dimming capability; life hours; energy consumption and cost to meet the varying requirements of different projects.
The single ‘low profile’ look is achieved through the integration of necessary power supplies into the length of the luminaire rather than being mounted in ugly separate housings and is available in three colours: white, black and silver-grey with either track adapter or ceiling rose mounting options.
www.seleconlight.com/wing

Matt's Party Hire launches new name, logo, website and premises
Specialist lighting and creative technologies company, Matt's Party Hire, will now be known simply as "MPH"
The updated name and new logo has now been officially launched, and to help it along they’ve updated and revamped the website too.
You can find it at: www.mattspartyhire.com.au
The website keeps you up to date with all the MPH news and events including equipment lists, recent productions, photo gallery, price lists and product brochures.
To coincide with this, they’ve added new stock to their list of niche products including:
   *  Stagemaker Variable Speed Chain Hoist system
   *  Mainlight Industries MF-3 Moving LED Head
   *  PixelLine Micro W
Adding to:
   *  Mainlight Soft-LED Drapes and Scrims: A light-weight low-resolution screen, the ideal back-drop for any stage show incorporating video content.
   *  MPH LED Balls: Check out their balls.
   *  WholeHog III: Lighting control for the shows that matter.
and much more lighting, effects and rigging equipment & knowledge.
This year MPH moved down the road to new premises in Fitzroy.
The address is 2/62 Rose Street, but you can find them just around the corner on Fitzroy Street.
Source: MPH media release

BCEC chooses Robert Juliat
A few months ago the savvy people of the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre’s lighting department decided it was time to invest in new follow spots. Their initial criteria were that the follow spots had to be able to deliver a constant colour temperature over a distance and basically provide a similar performance as their large, aging Xebex spots.
"Our inhouse follow spots were pretty old and so we trialed a few different manufacturer’s follow spots," commented Michael Kelly, lighting production supervisor at BCEC. "The Robert Juliat follow spots were the definite winner."
As a result of their intensive research, two Robert Juliat Victor and two Aramis follow spots were purchased by the BCEC lighting department.
"I really like the inbuilt colour correction and frost," continued Michael. "I also find the gel frame system better where it hangs on the front. They’re portability is also a plus; being able to easily pack them down and move them to another room is convenient. They’re also easy to set up and work with as well as being a quieter unit than we’re used to."
The Robert Juliat follow spots are used on just about every event that passes through the BCEC and Michael reports that his crew loves the fact that they are easier to use and are nicely weighted.
Pictured is Athol Sargood, one of BCEC’s casual follow spot operators.
Robert Juliat www.robertjuliat.fr
Distributed in Australia by www.showtech.com.au
Source: Show Technology media release

More Martin MAC250 Entours for Clear Systems
Clear Systems (Melbourne) have recently added more Martin MAC250 Entours to their range of Martin products.
“Our MAC250 Entours are really popular with corporate, theatre and school clients,” remarked Andrew Bowen, manager and director of Clear Systems. “They have good optics, give high light output plus they have a good range of gobo’s and colours. Importantly, they have great reliability. They’re also ideal for the versatility of work that we do and their small size is useful for some of the smaller venues we work in.”
Pictured are MAC250 Entours, MAC250 Washes, Pro Shop LED Par 64s and a Unique2 Hazer producing a very colourful show for a “Bollywood” themed event.
www.showtech.com.au

Barbizon set up Australian office
Barbizon, who has been setting standards in the lighting industry for over 60 years worldwide, now continues that tradition by offering their services and expertise at their new Sydney location.
Whether your needs are commercial, residential or educational Barbizon can work with you to put together the right package of products and services to produce the results you want at a price that fits your budget.
Products to be distributed in Australia by Barbizon Australia include Element Labs, Smoke Factory, Zylight, Selador and Protapes. Barbizon Australia will also act as international and local dealers for Philips, GE Lamps, Arri, Interactive Technologies, ETC, Jands/Vista, Bron Kobold, KinoFlo, Lee/Rosco Gel amongst hundreds of other brands.
To find out more about Barbizon Australia contact Marshall Harrington on maharrington@barbizon.com or 0414 157 388 or check their international website www.barbizon.com
Download their 404kB PDF brochure here

Osmond Electronics invest in Pro Shop LED gear and ArKaos
Osmond Electronics has been bringing the groove to Adelaide with their Pro Shop LED Video Panels, ArKaos Media Server and Honeycomb 36 LED fixtures.
Four months ago Osmond’s purchased sixteen of the Pro Shop modular LED Video Panels and they were so impressed by their brightness and power, they promptly ordered sixteen more!
“We try to keep ahead of the game here in Adelaide and no one else has anything like this,” commented Justin Accatino, Osmond’s Lighting Hire Manager. “I really like the fact that they are modular with each panel measuring 50 x 50 cm as it allows us to configure the screens in a variety of ways; instead of one big video screen we can place them on columns, rows, facades etc. They offer great versatility.”
Justin is also happy with the brightness of the Pro Shop LED Video Panels having used them in Adelaide nightclubs and he remarked that they are ideal for temporary use in live productions due to the ease of setup and pack down.
For media Justin has been using the ArKaos media server either through a MA Lighting grandMA or simply via a computer. Purchased at the same time as the initial Pro Shop LED Video Panels, the ArKaos completes Osmond’s versatile media package.
“I’d used ArKaos before and really liked it,” said Justin. “It’s really easy to use and a lot of people are now using it. “The LED Screens are operated via a PCI card that is installed into our media server, this means that we have an all in one system; a simple DVI loop out of our computer video card into this PCI card and in turn connection to the LED Screen Control Box…simple, and no need for another computer. I spend a lot of time searching for new media and making my own images.”
Each LED Video Panel is 50 x 50cm and contains 256 pixels in a 16 x 16 matrix. The modules are suitable for the display of real time video, images and text. They are also IP65 rated for outdoor use.
Osmond’s also own thirty of the Pro Shop Honeycomb 36 fixtures which are constantly is use and are popular with local AV companies who love to sub hire them.
“They’re quick and easy to set up, don’t use much power and run cool,” said Justin. “Using them is certainly preferable to setting up a whole heap of par cans. They’re great.”
Another significant purchase for Osmond’s was a JEM Glaciator X-Stream, the mother of all fog effects. The Glaciator can create a total, powerful, ground fog effect for Osmond’s larger productions such as the Police Tattoo and the Clipsal 500.
www.showtech.com.au

grandMA goes to Wellington
MJF Lighting is an expanding New Zealand lighting production company based in Wellington. Managing director Mike Farrand knew a few months ago that it was time to upgrade his inventory with a powerful lighting console and so he thoroughly researched the market.
“We’ve been assessing the market for the past 12 – 18 months to find a console that would suit the current needs of our company but also address our future needs,” said Mike. “We also had a good look at what products are being used around the world. The MA Lighting grandMA certainly looked like it would be the best long term solution for us.”
During his research, Mike was impressed by the grandMA’s track history and the support offered by both MA Lighting and the local distributors.
“We found that a lot of the people that we were talking to were very knowledgeable on the console and had very good experiences operating them,” added Mike. “The console, or the brand, didn’t appear to have a lot of faults and problems that were well know to other brands in the market place. So we knew we were buying something that was going to be reliable and had a very good reputation in the market.”
Mike particularly likes the processing power of the console which enables quick programming, reliable playback and also integration with other parts of the production such as media servers.
“We need a console that could embrace all of the latest advancement in technology,” he said. “It also had to be simple enough to take out on a small corporate show or do the largest production job that would come through the city. The grandMA is easy to use in its’ basic form but has the complexity needed at the other end of the scale.”
MJF Lighting has been in business for eighteen years starting with small theatre shows and band work; today they can cater to big concerts, corporate show or any other section of the entertainment industry. Eight full-time staff are employed at MJF with many casual crew on standby.
“The grandMA will be used on a number of large jobs over the next few months,” commented Mike. “The fact that grandMA is being specified on so many riders was also a factor - last week it was in Christchurch being used for Stevie Wonder. Plus, there is a limited availability of grandMA’s in New Zealand so they’re in high demand. In the past if we needed to hire in a grandMA it was difficult as other companies, who were not reluctant to do so, had their own workload for them. Sourcing off-shore was too costly particularly if it’s only a one or two day event.
“We have traditionally owned Strand and Avolites consoles but I have to say we all love the grandMA. It’s another level up.”
www.showtech.com.au

Element Labs Wins LDI, ESTA Awards
Element Labs won two major awards at LDI in Vegas. The Helix P1 - a flexible LED pixel string that can bend, wrap, drape, and fold - was named Best Debuting Projection Product at the show. The Versa RAY screen, used at the 15th Asian Games, earned an ESTA Rock Our World Award.
Helix P1 allows users to quickly deploy video over large spaces in creative ways. Coupled with flexible processing and RasterMAPPER software, individual strings are merged into one seamless video display. The snap-in diffuser accessory allows one to mount the Helix P1 to signage, scenery, or fabric.
The Rock Our World Awards were created to honor groundbreaking achievements, both products and projects. Out of more than 30 nominations, a screening panel narrowed the field to nine finalists, from which the Asian Games in Doha emerged as a winner. The Versa Ray Screen used at the games covered more than 45,000 sq. ft. In keeping with the circular structure of the Khalifa Stadium in Soha, the screen was also designed to be curved. It is 165m along the curve, reaching 39m at the highest point. It is comprised of 20,000 individual Versa Rays, which, laid end to end, would span more than 36 miles. A total of 762,000 individual LEDs were used, with a pixel pitch of 77mm.
www.elementlabs.com

Clarification on the Phasing Out of Inefficient Incandescent Lamps
The government initiative to remove inefficient incandescent lamps from sale is targeting the major energy wasting lamps in the
community: the 60 - 150w general lighting service incandescent lamps.
Specialist lamps including those used for traffic management, operating theatres, stage productions, photography and movie-making are explicitly exempt from the provisions of the minimum efficiency standards.
Aside from this exemption, the vast majority of the lamps used in production already meet or exceed the proposed minimum efficiency requirements.
However, if you are using a rig of PAR38s (portafloods) you are in deep trouble.
Otherwise, you may just have to go looking for some the newer high-efficiency incandescent lamps for your practical fittings.

Subscribe to Jands' newsletters
Sick of getting newsletters in your email that aren’t relevant for you? Well Jands has decided enough is enough, and have developed a series of e-newsletters that are designed with you in mind. Whether you’re just in the industry and want some background on Jands and what they are doing as a company, or whether you are in a specific market area and want the latest on stock and technical information, there is a publication now coming out for you.
Jands Backstage
Jands Backstage is the quarterly corporate e-newsletter distributed Australia wide. Want to get an insider’s view of Jands? Be the first to find out about the latest projects and news. Subscribe to Jands Backstage and put a face to the name.
Production HUB: [First issue out October 2008]
Production HUB is a new addition to our portfolio of e-newsletters, covering audio, lighting and staging needs of the production and rental markets. Brought to you bi-monthly, Production HUB gives you all the latest goss from the production world. Find out who’s using what in our “Out & About” features; get regular updates on general news and “What’s Hot” in the industry; learn something new through our “Geek Files” and apply your new found knowledge (compiled by our very own Technical Resource Group for your specific needs). Want to stay in the know? Subscribe to Production HUB and know what’s happing in your industry.
Contracting HUB: [First issue out November 2008]
Contracting HUB is our other new addition, covering audio, lighting and staging needs of the contracting market. Focusing on the specific needs of Contractors, Contracting HUB brings you bi-monthly updates on new and existing products through our “What’s Hot” section; offers a range of handy “Geek Files” (compiled by our very own Technical Resource Group for your specific needs); keeps you up to date with who’s doing what in our “Out & About” features; and feeds through regular industry news. Don’t be left out of the loop! Subscribe to Contractor HUB and stay up-to-date with all the developments in the contracting world.
www.jands.com.au

Arup launches theatre consultancy in Australasia
Leading design and consulting firm Arup is expanding its Australasian business to incorporate a specialist theatre consultancy. Arup will offer the full spectrum of theatre design services, including theatre planning and room design, stage equipment, production lighting and audio-visual design.
The new team will sit alongside the highly regarded acoustics business and will form part of Arup’s global network, which incorporates established theatre consultancy practices in Europe and the United States.
The Australasian theatre practice will be led by Don MacLean. Don has 28 years of experience in design, technical direction and project management for performing arts venues. A native of Scotland, Don’s international experience spans four continents, including projects for Universal Studios Recreation Group in Osaka, Euro Disneyland Imagineering in Paris, and the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards in Ottawa.
“I’m tremendously excited to be joining Arup in Australasia,” Don said. “We are positioned to expand rapidly and, like all of Arup’s businesses, our local team is fully supported by Arup’s global network of skilled professionals.”
Prior to taking up this new challenge, Don worked as Project Administrator for Cirque du Soleil’s new permanent theatre at the Venetian Macau Hotel and Casino. Since 2001, he has overseen completion of five new Cirque du Soleil theatres in Las Vegas, Tokyo and Macau.
“Don is a highly respected consultant in the theatre industry and has contributed, through his leadership of Cirque du Soleil’s technical theatre building projects, to the advancement of performing arts design,” said David Taylor, leader of Arup’s performing arts business in the Americas. “We are excited to have him in a senior position in Arup’s global arts team.”
Don joins a team of Arup consultants who have been responsible for the delivery of several iconic performing arts venues, including the MRC/MTC Theatre project in Melbourne, Fusionopolis Theatre in Singapore and the refurbishment of the Opera Theatre at the Seoul Arts Centre.
Andrew Nicol, leader of Arup’s acoustics business in Australasia said, “Gaining such a well recognised figure will reinforce Arup’s leadership in arts-related projects in the region.”
www.arup.com

Jands Vista is a Finalist in 2008 ESTA Rock Our World Awards
The Jands Vista lighting control system has been selected as a finalist in the 2008 ESTA Rock Our World Awards for its product application in the largest casino ballroom in Northeastern U.S.
The Rock Our World Awards recognize groundbreaking achievement by ESTA Members in new products, product applications, or projects. These awards were created to acknowledge the genius of both the creator of technology and the designer or integrator who applies the technology in a real world environment.
The casino at the new MGM Grand at Foxwoods resort in Connecticut features a 50,000 sq. ft., column free ballroom. The Premier Ballroom (see Figure 1 photo) is designed to be extremely flexible, featuring movable air walls that enable the space to be re-configured into 132 possible combinations, to accommodate events of all different styles and size.
Foxwoods wanted seamless integration and intuitive control of the casino ballroom's complex architectural and entertainment lighting systems. The Jands Vista provides a flexible lighting control system that can handle the variety of ballroom layouts in a visual way. Control of each room's lighting is represented graphically on a screen. If an air wall is moved, the Vista simply updates the lighting and the control screens of the newly adjoined rooms, so the operator can always see what they are controlling.
www.jandsvista.com

CCP invest in Robert Juliat
Perths Concert & Corporate Productions has recently invested in Robert Juliat 2500w Aramis Long throw follow spots.
“The decision to go to RJ’s has been a long time coming and are a welcome addition to CCP’s inventory available in Perth for large scale concerts and summer festivals” said Tim Bradsmith, CCP’s managing director. “The Aramis’ are fantastic in long throw applications and definitely cut the mustard in all of Perth’s large arenas.”
The follow spots have been working hard after being rushed through Perth customs by Show Technology’s Perth Account Manager Gino Lombardi; the Aramis had thirty minutes in CCP’s warehouse for lamp fitting and wiring before they were installed for a Judas Priest Concert that night. Practically straight out of the box and they performed spot-on.
www.showtech.com.au

Selecon Gears Up for LDI 2008
Selecon invites you to visit our Booth #1834 (easy to remember, just think Acclaim Axial 18-34 Zoomspot!) at LDI 2008 being held at the Las Vegas Convention Center later this month. As always, you will be able to check our full product line of leading theatrical performance lighting fixtures; Acclaim, Rama and Arena Fresnels and PCs ; the world’s largest range of ellipsoidals as represented by the unique Pacific range ; traditional Acclaim Zoomspots, Hui and Aurora Cyc / Floods and the very bright Performer range of Followspots. Something for everyone’s venue requirements and budgets!
What’s New?
“I can not believe that is only 575 watts”, said Charles Green, studio manager and lighting director at Boston Catholic Television about the light output of the Rama 6" Fresnel with the new Osram 575W BTH lamp.
Footcandle light output readings taken at spot focus are only 21.5% less than those recorded with the 1000W lamp and, at flood focus 36% less - an impressive 42.5% reduction in energy consumption.
There’s also the Hui Work Light which is proving an extremely popular addition to the Hui family of Cyc, Flood and Groundrow. Fitting the Cyc with wire safety mesh instead of safety glass means that the air flow system works in any position for extended operating hours required for overstage or rehearsal applications.
Plus, there’s the 8-leaf barndoor (you asked for it, we did it) and a new and improved rock’n’roll type color change for the Performer Series range of Followspots for you to take a look at as well.
While you are with us make sure you pick up a copy of our Selecon Performance Lighting catalog and your FREE set of the 7 Switched On posters which have been designed to encourage and assist with the magic of performance lighting.
The Selecon team looks forward to welcoming you on to Booth #1834 so do come, see what we have to offer you and say “g'day” to the NZ crew who've come down to give the North American boys some help with one of the busiest shows on our calendar!
www.seleconlight.com

Lux keep on top of the scene in WA
Since their acquisition nearly twelve months ago Lux’s twelve Martin LC Panels and Maxedia media server have been kept very busy.
According to Lux’s managing director Dave Trapp, the LC Panels have gained great momentum over that time as more and more clients become familiar with this unique product and technology.
“It was an interesting, albeit sometimes a difficult time, initially explaining to corporate clients that this video screen can’t actually display DVDs and high resolution images properly,” Dave said. “They were confused and simply couldn’t conceptualise what this product was, so we set about producing a DVD of images and video of the LC Panels in action.
”This saved many futile explanations and further sold many clients on what an effective, unique production and branding tool the LC Panels are.”
Dave reports that he is continually finding new applications for the LC Panels and that he is getting great results with custom content creation.
”We’ve also found that less is more and subtle applications can be more interesting than simply hanging a big wall of them upstage. In fact, from what initially seemed like a big investment, we’re now considering the acquisition of another twelve panels!”
Lux Entertainment Technology also took delivery of sixteen Martin MAC700s and sixteen MAC250 Entours mid year which, according to Dave, have been kept constantly warm!
”They haven’t had a lot of rest, adding big dynamic looks to our corporate events,” he said. “We had slowed the growth of our lighting department over the previous two years as we spent up on video, LC Panels and sets but it was a great reminder of how important big lighting states are to the look of any room, having such a large inventory now available to us.
”So much technology and yet we haven’t even had to consider opening the lid on any yet as they’ve all worked without fault for the four months we’ve had them. That’s very reassuring, not just in terms of confidence that the Martin units will be reliable on our shows but knowing we aren’t likely to have many - if any - expensive repairs once out of their warranty period. It’s this reduced total cost of ownership that make the Martin lights such good value for money.”
Dave is also extremely please with his Arkaos media server which he describes as an integral part of nearly all of Lux’s events. He is particularly impressed by its’ simplicity and quick set up.
”We use it for creative video control, pixel mapping the Pro Shop DMX LED tubes and driving the LC Panels,” he added. “Teamed up with our MA Lighting grandMA we have a great show control system for lights and video that has allowed us to deliver tight scripts for awards nights and gala dinners with total confidence. We rely less on having several operators all trying to execute cues at exactly the same moment. Now we can pre-produce these cues and know they’ll be perfect. It not only gives us confidence but gives us a competitive edge that our clients really value.”
Lux also recently purchased an 18m diameter F33 truss circle from Design Quintessence which Dave describes as an awesome statement in any arena and especially so in a ballroom.
”A curve of this size is more than a structural element,” reports Dave. “We’ve used it to create curved sets around stage, suspending LC Panels and perspex video screens and adding great depth to the room. We’ve also used it to hang drapes from and because of its size it redefines the boundaries of the room. Clients no longer recognise where the once rectangular room has gone and how it is possible that it now has curved walls! It’s a great look regardless of whether you can see the actual truss or not.”
Lux recently purchased thirty Pro Shop LED IP Strips which Dave has found to be very versatile and inexpensive. They regularly get used to light perspex such as the internally illuminated tiered stages occasionally supplied by Lux.
“While not a Chromabank in terms of consistency of colour, intensity and its field of light they are scarily good in the right application!” stated Dave. “As always the Show Technology team has provided great support with the odd question we’ve had. However we’ve really needed very little support. This must be a testament to the quality of their range – reliable and intuitive to use.”
www.showtech.com.au

Martin Atomics add new dimension
Greg Butt, GRB Lighting’s production manager, has just returned from an exhausting – yet exhilarating – seven week tour of the nation with Gyroscope and Shihad. Sharing the trip were his latest acquisitions; four Martin Atomic Strobes with Colour scrollers.
“The Atomics were absolutely amazing, said Greg. “We did thirty-six shows in seven weeks and they never let me down. They really are my favourite new toy. They add an extra element of excitement to the show especially when you use the spiking with the colours. The colours are brilliant and so intense adding a whole new dimension to the lighting.”
Greg also used some Studio Due CS4’s in his rig but unfortunately he used another brand of moving light. However he is now in the process of discarding these fixtures and is purchasing an entire new moving light rig of Martin MACs in anticipation of another national tour with a top Australian band.
www.showtech.com.au

Show Technology win International Award for the second year in a row
Show Technology has been presented with a prestigious Martin Distributor Award winning the Best Marketing Award for the second year in a row.
Just prior to PLASA, Martin Professional presented a number of accolades to its top performing distributors at a special dinner and awards banquet held at London’s Maroush V restaurant. Soren Storm presented the award to Emmanuel Ziino, Managing Director, and Paul Nicolaou, Victorian Branch Manager.
“For years now Show Technology has shown all around exceptional performance in marketing as well as great support of HQ’s marketing objectives,” said Christian Engsted, Martin Professional CEO. “From their website to their Proshop magazine and newsletters, they are always up to date with their communication, and no distributor exemplifies the power of PR like this one with inspiring case stories with good quality photography and content that help us share their success stories worldwide. Show Technology is a valuable and exemplary partner and we are proud to present them the accolade for Best Marketing for the second year in a row.”
Emmanuel Ziino was very gracious in his acceptance of the award stating that it wasn’t difficult to market the world’s leading brand of lighting equipment!
“Martin continuously develops awesome, reliable products that the market always seems to want,” he said. “Their products are so popular in Australia we never have any shortage of clients willing to say fabulous things about them and there are always plenty of productions and projects in motion that rely on Martin lighting. I am very proud to accept this award especially as it’s the second year in a row which is no mean feat.”
The key to Show Technology’s marketing is that they always have their finger on the pulse; they know where their products are going and what they are going to be doing. This is due to the close involvement that their staff has with their client base, always there to answer questions and offer advice.
“Mark McInnes, our National Sales & Marketing Manager, does a great job keeping track of all the projects using Martin,” commented Emmanuel. “He then feeds the leads to our roving PR person Cat Strom who is very persistent when it comes to getting the story!”
Emmanuel also notes that Luca Sellarulo, Sales & Marketing Support, has done a fantastic job making sure that their clients know about all of the latest Martin products as well as keeping the web site fresh and informative.
Whenever there’s a Martin product stealing the show, you can be assured that Show Technology are already writing the report and taking the photos.
www.showtech.com.au

An Innovative Console for an Innovative Company
Jeremy Koch, managing director of Innovative Production Services, was looking for a lighting control solution that he could foresee using in the long term (rather than a shortterm dead end purchase) and one with a solid support system. His wishes were answered by the Jands Vista S3, the compact version of Jands’ revolutionary Vista Lighting Control System that puts all the fabulous features of the full-scale console into a desk you can fit under your arm.
“Local support was very important,” commented Jeremy. “Immediately we were led to the Vista and then we had to choose which solution was the most cost effective for us in the short term whilst also giving us a platform on which we could build upon in the future.”
Jeremy reports that the Vista S3 is an extremely easy to use lighting console despite describing it as very different. He favours the Vista S3’s compact size which is perfect for the many corporate events that Innovative cater to.
“As far as the operating system of the console is concerned I would call the Vista the Macintosh of the lighting console world,” he claimed. “At the end of the day, all lighting consoles – whether it is a Hog, grandMa or Vista – are all doing the same thing: controlling lights and spitting out DMX512. I was looking for something that was innovative and different which went along with our company philosophy. The Vista ticked all the boxes particularly as far as the confidence I gained from talking with the development team at Jands about future features that will be implemented in the continuous development of the product”.
www.jands.com.au

Showcorp keep a step ahead with ArKaos Media Server
With the ever increasing convergence between the visual mediums of lighting and video for a myriad of live events, it’s becoming essential for event specialists to be able to deliver the latest in this technology to their clientele.
One company keen to keep one step ahead of the crowd is The Showcorp Group who specialize in interpretive theming, creative staging, advanced technical production and faultless presentation. After extensive research into what was available, Managing Director Colin Baldwin opted for an ArKaos Media Server. The ArKaos Media Server system allows for either a self build hardware setup or such in this case of the Showcorp system, Show Technology came to the aid to build a complete hardware setup tailored to the requirements that Colin had specified.
“The ArKaos Media Server was recommend to me by Andrew Winslade of Show Technology as the most practical and affordable solution for our new soft LED backdrop,” remarked Colin. “The system is easy to operate and works perfectly every time. ArKaos is a good quality, medium-priced digital media server solution with plenty of flexible control options. It was exactly what we were looking for in terms of dynamics and cost-effectiveness.”
That’s the beauty of the ArKaos system and the Show Technology built media servers; they can be easily tailored to your pricing versus performance requirements.
Pictured is the ArKaos producing the icon glasses of Buddy Holly in spectacular fashion at the launch of Buddy, the Buddy Holly Story which opens next year at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre.
www.showtech.com.au

Successful return to PLASA for Selecon in 2008
Selecon exhibited at the recent PLASA Tradeshow in London and after being absent from the show floor for the past four years there were new faces, a raft of new product and a new logo for visitors to meet and see as well as the full product line of theatrical and specialised display lighting.
"We decided to attend this year to meet our many new customers from the far flung regions of Continental Europe, and we were successful in reaching these important new contacts. Attendees from Russia, Poland, Azerbaijan, Romania, Bulgaria and Israel together with our dealers from the UK visited the Selecon stand where we showed the latest new products released this year,” explains Michael Goldberg, Selecon’s European Sales & Marketing Director.
These new products included the high frequency, variable voltage 80V Direct DMX Power Supply which supplies 80V to energy efficient 1200W lamps for the Pacific range and the Rama 175 High Performance Fresnel. The resulting light is bright and white with the output of, or near to an equivalent 2.0/2.5kW mains voltage luminaire - save energy, both power and people with these smaller and lighter units!
Visitors with an interest in specialised display were able to get their hands on Selecon’s latest addition to the architectural line – the small, slim-line Wing range of Wall Washer Floods which offer the choice of traditional tungsten halogen light sources as well as the latest in energy saving high quality metal halide and fluorescent lamps.
Photo: seated left to right - Thorsten Sattler, Selecon Germany; Ritchie Reed, Selecon UK; Rainer Weggen, Selecon Germany and Michael Goldberg standing between Thorsten and Ritchie.
For more on the comprehensive range of Selecon performance lighting www.seleconlight.com

Clay Paky Alpha Beam 300 Wins the Award for Innovation at Plasa 2008
There has been an atmosphere of great satisfaction at Clay Paky for many months now for having succeeded in designing a product that is unique, unrivalled and without direct competitors, capable of filling a gap in live entertainment.
The Lighting Designers noticed the difference and immediately identified Clay Paky's newest product as a creative and innovative tool for their work, specifying it for some of the most important international projects.
The Rental Companies noticed the difference and immediately welcomed the innovative nature of the solution and appreciated the extraordinary performance features of the Alpha Beam 300, purchasing many units and enabling Clay Paky to dedicate complete production lines exclusively to this product, to meet the countless requests received from all over the world.
Only the official acknowledgement was missing, which was not long in arriving: ALPHA BEAM 300 won the Award for Innovation at the Plasa 2008 event held in London on Monday evening on the 8th September.
The acknowledgement was assigned to Mr. Enrico Caironi of Clay Paky. Mr. Matthew Griffiths, Managing Director of Plasa, said that “The judges were impressed by this amalgamation of existing technologies which has created a new tool for lighting designers, offering greater versatility and flexibility”.
Mr Pasquale Quadri, President of Clay Paky, told us: “We are very proud of this award: it confirms that Alpha Beam 300 was exactly the solution that was missing in the world of live entertainment. The on-going contact with lighting designers and all the qualified operators of the sector was a key factor”.
Innovative and complete, compact, service friendly and easy to install and use, ALPHA BEAM 300 is the ideal Moving Light Beam for “live” professional use especially “long throw” to cut through the brightness of stage washes or LED backgrounds, with Aircraft Landing light effects never seen before.
Alpha Beam 300 is very powerful and eco-friendly: thanks to the new special Clay Paky optical group, it is 3 times brighter than an ordinary 1200W wash projector, with the energy consumption of a 300W light bulb. This enables it to be used instead of considerably larger projectors, with enormous savings in energy.
The Aperture and graphics of the “tube of light” can be decided at will by using the 8 fixed gobos available, while a linear frost can be used to pass from a narrow hard beam to a more or less soft one. CMY colour mixing and a colour wheel (8+1) allow the light beam to be coloured at will. A Dimmer on a dedicated channel, stop/strobe and high speed Pan/Tilt complete the ALPHA BEAM 300 configuration.
A number of comments made by lighting designers, rental company managers and operators of the sector that have specified, installed and used Alpha Beam 300 are mentioned below.
LD Giovanni Pinna (Vasco Rossi tour): “the 45 Alpha Beam 300 are the special features of the tour, these are really spectacular products, I saw them three months ago and I fell in love with them: this is a projector that you see and recognise, something really special”.
LD Marco Policastro (“Mary of Nazareth” musical at the Vatican): “ I have always adored the ACLs, and this is the spotlight that is very similar to that type of light, providing in addition, rapid movement. The product is very luminous, versatile, lightweight, adapts to any space and in hundreds of different situations: it is the product that was missing!”
Baz Halpin (LD for the Queen + Paul Rodgers tour and for the Tina Turner tour): "I chose the Alpha Beam 300 for Tina Turner and Queen + Paul Rodgers because of their low power consumption, unparalled output compared to anything else in its class. I was most impressed by their reliability, speed and effectiveness. They are light, bright and pack a powerful punch. I love them".
www.lighthousedistribution.com.au

2008 PLASA Awards for Innovation announced
The 2008 PLASA Awards for Innovation, announced in a special presentation ceremony at the PLASA Show in London, continued the recent trend towards a huge diversity of product nominations, ranging from major lighting, audio and video showstoppers to the less glamorous, but equally essential, tools of the trade.
Over 65 products were put forward this year, all of which were showcased in a stunning new Innovation Gallery, linking Earls Court 1 and 2.
Chosen by a panel of independent judges drawn from across the industry, seven Silver Awards were presented by PLASA Chairman Rob Lingfield to:
Goboland (Stand F31) for their Black Steel Gobo. The judges felt that this product would enhance an established technology and allow designers a greater range of creative possibilities.
Neutrik (Stand K33) for their convertCON. With convertCON, Neutrik has demonstrated that it's possible to innovate within existing defined standards. The judges praised the elegance of the product's ability to slip from one 'sex' to another in a single twist.
Display LED Screens (Stand E61) for their digiFLEX. The judges were impressed by this first flexible LED display solution. The clever rubberised design lends itself to new applications and adds a new dimension to display technologies.
Clay Paky (Stand E47) for their Alpha Beam 300. The judges were impressed by this amalgamation of existing technologies which has created a new tool for lighting designers, offering greater versatility and flexibility.
JB-lighting Lichtanlagentechnik (Stand C83) for their VaryLED A7 Zoom. This new luminaire found favour with the judges as the first moving LED fixture with a zoom function entered into the Awards, heralding a new era that has added depth to LED functionality.
Eilon Engineering (Stand L76) for their Ron StageMaster. Using this company's proven wireless load cell technology with a new software application has allowed those involved in rigging to enhance safety and to remotely monitor changes to the loading on structures.
Global Design Solutions (Stand F79) for their MOBAL 19 Pin Pro tester. Over the years socapex testers have come and gone, but this new development looks set to become an industry standard. The judges found this product simple to use and particularly liked its informative LED display.
The first ever Gold Award went to the Royal Shakespeare Company (Stand G81) for their RSC LightLock. Borne out of a necessity to reduce time and labour during lighting set-up, this is a product that the judges felt demonstrated true innovation in removing the oscillation of truss sections or other lightweight suspension points caused by the rotation of moving lights.
The Environmental Award - which seeks to recognise a product or company that has taken significant steps to minimise the environmental impact of their activities - was presented to Proteus Display (Stand E89) for their new reflective LCD Proteus Display.
This product is an interesting new development of existing technologies giving designers a new tool packaged in an elegant manner. In a climate of increasing energy costs, this is an important carbon offset initiatives enabling users to buy a carbon neutral product.
The Awards Ceremony also gave profile to PLASA's strengthening industry skills initiatives and featured a brief presentation from Live Nation's CEO Paul Latham, the newly-appointed chair of the National Skills Academy, who encouraged the industry to support this major new project.
He then went on to present the monies raised from the Awards nomination fees to this year's specially chosen charities - the National Student Drama Festival, an annual event held in Scarborough, and SABA UK, an arts charity that provides performance and educational opportunities for young people in the live music and performing arts industries.
Matthew Griffiths, MD of PLASA, who hosted the ceremony, commented: "The PLASA Awards are the industry's touchstone for creativity and innovation - the qualities on which our industry was founded and continues to thrive - and we are delighted to give real focus to the impressive range of new technologies coming to the market."

ULA at Chameleon Open day
ULA were on board to support Chameleon Touring Systems Open Day this August, presenting the latest in LED solutions!
On display were the latest in high powered LED fixtures from Robe and iLED. Also on hand, were the ever popular SGM Palco 5’s, E:Cue Fader Unit and Butler and the Le Maitre LSG machine.
Released in June of this year, the Robe RED Wash series of fixtures is based upon RED Technology (Robe Emitted Diodes) and features Luxeon Rebel LEDs. Featured at the Open Day was the RED Wash 3•192, Robe’s new powerful moving head Wash Light featuring RGBW, and utilising 192 Luxeon Rebel LEDs to produce variable optics and output comparable to a 1200 wash fixture. The REDWash 3•192 provides a rectangular light field with a narrow beam spread. Unlike often seen similar effects this fixture provides a unique and fresh approach to concert touring, TV and Event Lighting applications.
The latest release products from iLED were also on demo at the Chameleon open day, including the Pixel LED 80, ParLite 18, and the ColorBank 54. The iLED range of products offers innovative LED solutions for the production, touring, installation and architectural lighting industries, with exceptional output, precision optics and saturated full color. With the second release of the iLED range this July, these fixtures have been in high demand and are now an essential component of major rental inventories across the country.
ULA’s technical specialist, Jesse Radatti, was on hand at the Chameleon open day, and comments “It’s great to take the product out to the market. Especially innovative new products like the Robe RED Wash. This fixture attracted a lot of attention on the day, because it is a little bit different and opens up a whole range of different applications for a LED wash fixture”.
www.ulagroup.com

Logan Entertainment Centre chooses Robert Juliat
The Logan Entertainment Centre, located midway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, hosts a variety of events each year, ranging from theatre shows and concerts through to exhibitions, school productions, markets and award dinners.
The venue has recently replaced all of their aging lighting on their two front of house bars with six Robert Juliat 310 fresnels, with PC lenses, and nine Robert Juliat Lutins, all supplied by The Production Shop.
“We had a bunch of old fixtures from another manufacturer but they really weren’t punchy enough and weren’t quite doing the job they were supposed to,” remarked Darren McBride, Logan’s Acting Technical Supervisor. “We were having trouble with reflectors and focus mechanisms etc, so we decided to replace them and if we were going to spend the money, we may as well have the best. As a result we now have a fantastic array of Robert Juliat fixtures.
The Robert Juliat fixtures have replaced most of the colour wash as well, which was previously achieved by a basic par can two colour wash.
“The PCs are far more versatile,” said Darren. “We can use them for specials, fill lighting and all sorts of stuff now. Having these fixtures has enormously improved the venue.
“Both Robert Juliat models are doing a great job and I’m really happy with them. They give a nice even light, very flat and plain. They really are a joy to work with - the focus mechanism, the barn doors and that whole system is just really good.”
www.showtech.com.au

Four Years’ Worth of New Product from Selecon!
Selecon Performance Lighting is back at PLASA! Since last exhibiting in 2003 Selecon’s commitment to consistent and innovative product development has seen the re-development of a few old favourites and the introduction of several new luminaires building on an already comprehensive theatrical and architectural display range.
Visit the Selecon Booth E103 at PLASA 08 to see Selecon’s full product line of leading performance luminaires which includes the Acclaim, Rama and Arena Fresnels and PCs; the world’s largest range of ellipsoidals as represented by the unique Pacific range; Hui, Lui and Aurora Cyc / Floods and the very bright Performer range of Followspots.
Check out the performance of the new high frequency, variable voltage 80V Direct DMX Power Supply which supplies 80V to energy efficient 1200W lamps for the Pacific range and the Rama 175 High Performance Fresnel resulting in bright white light with the output of, or near to an equivalent 2.0/2.5kW mains voltage luminaire. Save energy, both from the power grid and of the technical team with these smaller and lighter luminaires.
The Wing range of Wall Washer Floods is Selecon’s latest addition to their specialised display lighting range. A single slim-line body design offers the choice of traditional tungsten halogen light sources as well as the latest in energy saving high quality metal halide and fluorescent lamps. Precision lock off, reference scales and effective heat management delivers the performance required by museums, art galleries wherever high quality display lighting is required.
The Selecon team looks forward to welcoming you to Stand E 103 in the second hall.
www.seleconlight.com

Chameleon changes colour
He may have turned a few naïve lighting technicians white in his day but now Tony Davies, managing director of Chameleon Touring Systems, is turning his attention to turning Martin white. We’re talking about Martin MACs of course. In fact Chameleon revealed their white powder coated MAC700’s at their recent Open Day and the response from the lighting rental market was very positive.
Always quick to spot a gap in the lighting rental market, Tony reports that the white MACs have received bookings and lots of interest since their unveiling. In fact the white MAC700’s are just about to be used on the Myer Spring/Summer fashion launch designed by Mark Hammer.
“I think there’s a lot of interest in a non-black moving light particularly in the corporate market,” he commented. “In fact we are looking at a couple of other colours too, maybe gold and silver.”
www.showtech.com.au

PLASA Puts Sustainability Centre Stage
Recent months have seen a landmark development for the events industry with the arrival of BS 8901, a major new standard set to radically transform the events landscape.
Launched at the end of last year and currently going through a series of pilot trials, BS 8901 specifies the requirements for a sustainable event management system. It encompasses all events, from large-scale tours and unique events such as the 2012 Olympics, to music festivals and amateur sporting events. It will take no prisoners, applying throughout the industry supply chain to venues, organising companies and industry suppliers and contractors.
Major event clients such as the London 2012 Organising Committee and the Greater London Authority are already referring to BS 8901 in their tenders. Corporate clients are expected to follow as they work to ensure their own sustainability policies are being implemented throughout their organisations. In addition, event attendees and delegates are becoming increasingly aware of the need to address sustainability. Consequently, this new standard will soon become a minimum requirement to do business in the events industry. Like risk management and health and safety before, it will eventually become part of the way the event industry operates.
PLASA, the main professional body for the sector, has taken a lead on this issue and developed a cost-effective programme specifically geared to help its members implement BS 8901. The programme has been developed in partnership with the Sustainable Events Group and is based around a series of educational workshops supplemented by in-the-field support. SEG were involved in writing the standard and are currently piloting its implementation with a number of major venues and event organisers, including PLASA Events.
The PLASA BS 8901 programme - currently the only programme of its kind in the world - will enable PLASA Members to get ahead of the rest of the industry and to take a leadership position on the sustainability agenda. In addition, as BS 8901 is up for review at the end of 2008, the BS 8901 programme will enable members to have a direct say in the structure and content of the revised standard.
Independent third party certification to the standard is likely to become increasingly important. Third party certification provides credibility and will be a significant advantage as event clients choose to work with organisations that are genuinely capable of improving the sustainability of events. Achieving certification to BS 8901 will therefore provide a competitive edge as event clients become more discerning.
The PLASA programme also includes certification to the standard. Members participating in the programme therefore have the opportunity to be amongst the first to achieve independent certification to BS 8901.
Ruth Rossington of PLASA commented: "Industry is increasingly being challenged to carry out its business in a more sustainable manner. Today, the majority of companies acknowledge that the management of sustainability issues is fundamental to the long-term success of their organisations. By adopting this standard the events industry has the opportunity to lead the world in addressing the sustainability issues facing us all today."
For more on BS8901, see the September 2008 issue of Lighting&Sound International magazine - now available FREE, worldwide, in Digital format.

Show Technology’s Hot Reveals at Chameleon
Yet again the Australian lighting community were amongst the first to see ground-breaking new lighting gear, thanks to Show Technology. Revealed at Chameleon Touring Systems Open Day were two hotly anticipated products: the Martin MAC III and the MA Lighting grandMA2.
Due to be officially launched at this years’ PLASA tradeshow, both of these products are expected to be in high demand and will no doubt be snapped up as they roll off the manufacturing line.
The MAC III is the all new third generation of the Martin MAC moving heads and represents a giant leap in technology from recent products. This new flagship has innovative technology (most of which is being kept under wraps until the official release at PLASA in September) but we can divulge a few things including a new specially designed 1500W lamp; modular design; data communication (bi-directional); diagnostics tools; new dynamic effects; ultra wide zoom; quick speed and much more. The new MAC III will change the way lighting designers use moving heads.
“I thought the MAC III was great!” remarked lighting designer Mark Hammer after the event. “Like most lighting people I’m a bit of an output fan and it seems to be ramping up the output. The zoom range looks fantastic and it also looked great.”
“I was really excited by the maintenance system that Martin has built into the MAC III,” added Dave Jackson, of Group Services Productions. “The ability to download and store calibrations and such is fantastic; you can store back down to a USB key and go back to the factory to see what went wrong with a light or why different modules were swapped etc. It’s going to be a great corporate / production tool.
Dave was also impressed by the grandMA2 describing it as brilliant.
“The thing that grabbed me straight away was how comfortable I felt at the console,” he said. “Ergonomically it’s really well designed – it feels cool and comfortable to sit at and you can grab everything you need really quickly. It really is awesome and I can certainly see us purchasing one further down the line!”
MA Lighting’s brand new grandMA2 full-size controls all kinds of lighting genres like conventionals, moving lights, LEDs, video and media. MA Lighting has kept the intuitive grandMA control philosophy, including the same command line and syntax. However, the company has cleaned up, improved and extended the software, and optimized the colours and views. The advanced networking architecture is even more powerful and allows full upward compatibility from the “old” grandMAs, while a ‘Series 1’ mode also allows for full downward compatibility.grandMA2 offers a complete system solution for a wide range of top-end applications, including theatre-style programming or concert touring multi-user programming sessions. grandMA2 also includes fader wings, giving up to 90 faders per console.
“We were privileged to have both Martin and MA Lighting’s support and were honoured to be showing these new, important products to our market so early,” commented Show Technology managing director Emmanuel Ziino. “The Australian market has become a key testing ground and because of the high level of talent we have here, our suppliers recognise the importance of this markets input”
www.showtech.com.au

PLASA08: technology, education and record registrations
The promise of new technologies and applications, and a dramatically expanded educational programme, has helped drive the PLASA Show to its highest-ever pre-registration figures, with a record total of over 10,000 industry professionals already registered to attend.
With the show a year on since its redesign, the one-floor, two-hall layout has been refined and expanded to allow for new and returning exhibitors.
And with new products topping the 'wish list' of the majority of visitors, there's no doubt that PLASA08 will definitely deliver, according to Show Director Nicola Rowland. "There's a real buzz building around the wide range of technologies and expertise on offer at the show and how these can be applied across the industry. It's a unique chance to see how projects are being delivered, how lighting, sound and AV systems are being re-thought around new technologies and how events, productions and architectural installations, are benefiting from innovative developments."
The trend reflects the growth in demand for products which push the boundaries, with a broadening variety of lighting, video display media, networked audio, data and control systems, becoming the new backbones from which the industry is reinventing the way forward.
Also boosting pre-registration is the fact that, for the first time ever, there is no diary overlap with IBC, helping attract major first-time exhibitors to PLASA08, as well as the return of several major audio and lighting manufacturers, while the presence of staging specialists is also expanding.
PLASA08's education programme will see a significant expansion of last year's seminars, along with several exciting new initiatives and partnerships. They build on the organisation's existing relationships with US trade body ESTA - which is hosting an expanded North American Pavilion - alongside pavilions supported by the ISCE and IOA.
With a strong focus on industry technologies, the seminars will address existing and emerging audio, AV and lighting technologies and their applications, and will be hosted by some of the industry's best-known manufacturers and innovators.
Leading the charge is the first ever PLASA Masterclass, hosted by the winner of the inaugural Gottelier Award, Funktion-One co-founder Tony Andrews.
Cirque du Soleil follows last year's standing room-only session with a new presentation on the 'Challenges of Automation', while a second theatre will host a full programme of Special Interest Sessions. Amongst the issues being addressed in this programme are sustainability, with a presentation by London's Arcola Theatre - the world's first carbon neutral theatre - addressing the implementation and use of energy efficient lighting, a Theatres Trust-led session on Display Energy Certificates and a presentation from the team at the National Theatre on its sustainable lighting strategies.
Another session will focus on the increasingly diverse and exciting world of display technologies from small-format interactive to large-format LED, whilst also under discussion will be the new BS8901 (Sustainable Event Management) standard which will re-shape the way events and venues are delivered in the future.
Other leading industry organisations lending their name to the seminar programme include InfoComm, the Institute of Acoustics and a whole series of seminars from Technologies for Worship. All of these sessions will be free to visitors.
In addition, there will be a series of 'fee-based' intensive training sessions delivered by CAST Software on its range of visualisation packages.
In a major development, PLASA08 will also be the industry platform for the official launch of the Mayor of London's Green Theatre Programme, as part of which there will be a special exhibition focusing on climate change initiatives.
A new Industry Skills Zone, sponsored by PLASA Qualifications, will also spotlight skills development in the sector and will feature industry organisations such as the Arts Council, ABTT, the National Student Drama Festival, the Sector Skills Councils and the team from the new National Skills Academy. It will also act as the Information Point for the new National Rigging Certificate and NVQ developments in the audio and AV sectors, all of which have been given momentum by PLASA's recent accreditation as an Awarding Body by the QCA - the first trade association to be recognised in the entertainment, conference, architectural and communications industries.
The team from the National Physical Laboratory - the UK's National Measurement Institute and a world leading centre in developing and applying accurate measurement standards - will also be in attendance as part of a joint initiative with PLASA to develop collaborative ways of working with the industry.
Sunday's DJ events will also feature a DJ programme, supported by KAM, which includes the Drum & Bass Arena vs Forum DJs spin-off - a chance for aspiring DJs to match their talents against the leading names in drum and bass.
With exhibition space close to being fully sold out, half price visitor pre-registration is receiving record hits as visitors take advantage of the 50% discount on entry passes.
New visitor features will include a coffee lounge, extended wi-fi facilities and fully-equipped registration areas at both Earls Court 1 and 2 entrances.
PLASA08 goes live at Earls Court on Sunday 7 September and runs through to Wednesday 10 September 2008. Register now at www.plasashow.com/register

Suncoast AV’s new showroom sparkles with Show Technology products
Click on images to enlarge


Suncoast AV has unveiled their new showroom which is packed to the rafters with fabulous Show Technology supplied gear!
The L-shaped showroom is also equipped with trussing, audio equipment from notable audio companies such as Audio Telex, and projectors from NEC.
Suncoast AV specialise in top quality installation work around the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane with recent projects including The Wharf Tavern at Mooloolaba, The CBD Hotel in Varsity Lakes and The Villa at Noosa. The crew at Suncoast AV back Show Technology products 100% favouring the reliability of their products and the fantastic service provided.
“We could have gone with a local lighting distributor whose products are OK but we find their backup and service not too good,” commented Brad Galgon of Suncoast AV. “Show Technology’s product are truly tried and tested. Their back up support is very good; you can contact them any time of the day and you’re guaranteed to get someone to help you. They also have some really good training days which are very useful.”
The showroom illustrates many fabulous Martin products such as the colourfulEFX effects series (stretching from the 500 to 800), the popular SCX scanner series, high-output smartMACs, and the powerful MX-10 scanners. Also on display are Pro Shop LED Pars and Truss Toners – in fact Suncoast were the first Show Technology partner to receive these spunky little triangular LED toners which Brad describes as fantastic.
Brad is particularly excited by two of Martin’s newer products; the StageBars, which he is hoping to install into Suncoast’s next big project and the smartMAC whose output he explained as very impressive.
“Martin is getting very good at manufacturing lighting that fits well into architectural applications instead of sticking out like the disco-candy gear,” he remarked.
www.showtech.com.au

LSC invests in australian built products
With the current trend of outsourcing product manufacture to Asian countries, Australian Lighting Control System manufacturer, LSC Lighting Systems has bucked the trend and invested heavily in expanding manufacturing within its own home market.
LSC’s Managing Director, Gary Pritchard, explains – “Although the perceived financial benefits of manufacturing in Asia are tempting, the stories of inferior quality products and lost Intellectual Property experienced by other companies exploring this option, have convinced us to invest here in Australia. We are very protective of our Intellectual Property (designs) and we pride ourselves on the high quality and enduring products we build. Both of these qualities, we felt, could be at great risk if outsourced to areas that are hard to directly control from Australia.”
To show our customer base that LSC products are indeed “Products of Australia”, the company has recently qualified for the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry “Australian Made” campaign, recognising its commitment to Australian designed and manufactured products. Gary adds “There is much confusion about where products actually come from these days and joining this program was we felt an independent way of confirming that the products we sell are fully manufactured in Australia to our exacting standards. Participation in this program allows us to use the Government owned green and gold kangaroo 'Product of Australia' logo on qualifying products".
LSC recently moved to new purpose built premises – doubling its previous floor space. The manufacturing and warehousing areas have been designed with a more open plan suitable for the Lean Manufacturing principles that company has adopted. Staff numbers have increased by 30% over the last 12 months with recent emphasis on the Sales and Engineering sectors of the company. Further investment in design tools and business management systems have aided in the increased efficiency the company has experienced. Gary adds: “The building was certainly a big factor in LSC’s expansion program, but employing the right staff, designing the right products and delivering what we say we’re going to do, have undoubtedly increased the confidence of our customers in the LSC name. We are proud to be an Australian owned and operated company, building and shipping Australian made products to all corners of the world.”
For more information on the Australia made Campaign please visit www.australianmade.com.au
www.lsclighting.com.au

Church opts for Smart Lighting
Christian City Church Bridgeman Downs is located on Brisbane's northside. It has a dynamic, thriving congregation of 2500 members who regularly pack out the ever-lively auditorium. The time had come to invest in some intelligent lighting for the auditorium and local supplier Brisbane Sound Group recommended the new bright and economical Martin smartMAC.
The smartMAC is a bright 150 W moving head profile luminaire that offers owners a number of benefits: superior reliability, long service intervals, total silence and reduced power bills thanks to a unique fanless cooling system that avoids forcing dust and pollutants into the fixture. The smartMAC kicks out an impressive show of multiple effects and colour as well.
Steve Ryan, the Musical & Technical Director for the Church, is delighted with his six smartMACs which are small on footprint yet big on impact. He has known about Martin’s solid reputation for reliability and with his smartMACs, he’s looking forward to minimal maintenance.
”The fixtures are ideal for us,” commented Steve. “I particularly like their low noise emission which is very important for us. They also have an impressive light output, great gobos and colours which are easy to swap. I also like their smooth running. It’s also great, in today’s climate, that they are efficient with energy consumption. I believe that they are also quick and easy to get at for servicing but of course, we haven’t had to do that as yet!”
www.showtech.com.au

AV magazine available free to AV industry participants
AV - the magazine for audiovisual professionals, is being launched this week by Alchemedia, the publishers of the well-known Venue and Audio Technology magazines. Subscriptions are free to participants in the AV industry.
The first issue contains a wide range of articles including
· the use of video elements in the MTV awards show and Hillsong's 2008 DVD recording session.
· how to chose the right colour temperature correction filter for shooting video screens
· CCP Perth's new IMAG system.
· Using AMX to order coffee.
· the convergence of the AV and IT industries as discussed at InfoComm 2008 in Las Vegas.
To get your copy of the premier issue, go to the AV website www.av.net.au and fill out the online subscription form.

Showtech to Issue Entertainment Industry Red Card
Showtech have announced that they are in the process of becoming registered with Worksafe to be able to issue the Entertainment Industry Red Card, formerly known as "construction induction training"
Showtech will be making a formal announcement soon, but as the requirement for such certification is imminent, they have already begun receiving enquiries about the situation.
In the interim they are taking registrations of interest for the course, and will be emailing details of courses as soon as they become available.
To register your interest send an email to redcard@showtechaustralia.com.au
Please include "RED CARD" in the message subject
and include your
Company name
Your name or contact name
Address
Phone number
E-mail
If you are registering on behalf of a company, please include how many people you wish to enrol.
www.showtechaustralia.com.au

Martin LC Panels a powerful new tool for Resolution X clients
Resolution X is excited to announce the addition of Martin LED LC Panels to their hire department. “It has taken 6 months of market research, but we are excited to add this new product to our inventory,” says Tim Hall.
Being the first to hold hire stock in Melbourne has meant the panels have been extremely busy. They have already been in use on The Logie Awards, Wheel of Fortune, The Footy Show (pictured) and numerous corporate events.
As part of the purchase Resolution X has now added fibre optic DVI links, DVI splitters, LCD monitors, quality DVI cables and all rigging accessories.
“The LC Panels give a powerful new tool to our clients,” added Tim. “The feedback from clients who have used them has been fantastic and I can only see the demand growing for this product.”
www.resolutionx.com.au
www.showtech.com.au

Robe's Digital Roadshow
The latest additions to the Robe family have reached Australian shores and have toured the East Coast in the Robe Digital Roadshow.
Melbourne's famous Robe venue, the Queens Bridge Hotel (QBH) played host to the first leg of the Digital Roadshow on the 3rd and 4th of June, giving both ULA clients and Lighting Designers the opportunity to get up close and personal with the new Robe Digital line up. Leading industry figures from all over Victoria came to see the exciting new products first hand and to experiment with products they had never used before.
On show were the exciting new Robe DigitalSpot 3000 DT and the DigitalSpot 7000 DT, which did not disappoint. The attendees were also treated to the Australian debut of the new Robe REDWash 3•192 which utilizes the new Luxeon Rebel LEDs. Also on display was the Robe ColorWash 750 AT Tungsten following on from its debut at this years ENTECH.
The Digital Roadshow continued on to ULA's Sydney facility on June 5th. On hand to present these fixtures was Robe's Managing Director, Joseph Valchár, who was overwhelmed and delighted by the level of excitement and positive feedback he received about the Robe products in Australia. "Australia has really embraced Robe" says Josef "and the new DigiSpots really have people's attention!"
The Robe's then travelled on the following week to events at the Gold Coast's Convention Centre on the 11th and Brisbane's Powerhouse Theatre on the 12th. Both events were attended by Queensland's industry leaders who were very impressed by the new Robe Digital products, sparking excited discussion around the room as they got their hands on the fixtures for the first time.
The Robe Digital Roadshow is part of ULA's continual commitment to providing clients with the best products, information and support to help grow their businesses. "It was a great to see the excitement on everyone's faces when they got to really see what these new (Robe) fixtures can do… Overall a fantastic opportunity for everyone who attended" stated Blair Terrace, ULA's National Sales and Marketing Manager.
The new Robe Digital and LED range will be coming into stock over the coming weeks to Robe's exclusive Australian distributor, the ULA Group. For more information or for a chance to book a hands on demonstration of the new Robe products, please call 1300 ULA GROUP : 1300 852 476.
www.ula.com.au

New book - Entertainment In Production
Entertainment Technology Press and writer and lighting programmer & designer Rob Halliday announce the release of two new books, Entertainment In Production 1994-1999, and Entertainment in Production 2000-2006.
Gathering together more than a decade's worth of magazine articles on the production of shows written by Rob Halliday for publications such as Lighting & Sound International, Lighting Dimensions and Total Production, the two books provide a comprehensive record of the creation of some of the biggest shows of the period, looking at the projects, the people behind them and the technology involved and how it has evolved over time.
The books covers all of the 'backstage' elements of the shows, including lighting, sound, staging, automation and more, featuring the work of designers Acme Sound Partners, Francois Bergeron, Ken Billington, Andrew Bridge, Andrew Bruce, Bob Crowley, Jonathan Deans, Bob Dickinson, Michel Crete, William Dudley, Rick Fisher, Paul Groothuis, Wendall Harrington, Mark Henderson, Howard Harrison, David Hersey, Natasha Katz, Luc Lafortune, Nigel Levings, Matt McKenzie, Anne Militello, Tony Meola, John Napier, Nick Ormerod, Chris Parry, Kenneth Posner, Paul Pyant, Mike Walker, Anthony Ward, Patrick Woodroffe and many more.
http://www.etbooks.co.uk

More Martin gear for Group Production Services
As the photo shows, Dave Jackson of Group Production Services is elated with his recently acquired Martin MAC700 profiles and MAC250 Entour washes.
“We purchased the MAC700’s because clients were always specifying them plus we already had MAC500, MAC600 and MAC250 Entour profiles,” he said. “The MAC700’s have a fantastic output, great colour mixing and they’re a handy size. Also, they’re reliability has been great.”
Group Production Service’s MAC700’s have just finished a handful of Queensland dates with the band Cut Copy (pictured) with lighting designed by Anthony Petruzzio. The rig included MAC700’s and MAC600’s as well as some Atomic Strobes plus twelve Martin Stage Bars situated on vertical pipes at the back of the stage.
“The Martin Stage Bars were running in high resolution mode with multiple patterns running through them” explained Dave. “The Stage Bars are awesome in fact we can’t keep enough of them in the factory! It’s the best LED fixture – you can actually light stuff with them. You can have four of them on a stage for side washes and they end up lighting the whole stage.”
Dave is also having fun using his new MAC250 Entours which he describes as great and a fixture that he loves for its punch and nice colours.
www.showtech.com.au

Phaseshift purchase another grandMA
Phaseshift Productions has recently finished a national tour with k.d.lang who was accompanied by the company’s new MA Lighting grandMA Lite console.
Lighting designer Mike Duncan had requested a full size grandMA for control slaved with a grandMA Lite for back up. His rig included eleven Martin MAC700 washes, thirteen MAC700 profiles, two MAC2000 performances, ten conventional profiles and a LED star curtain.
“It was a simple, elegant show,” commented Jeremy Nolan, Phaseshift’s system technician for the tour. “It was tasteful to k.d’s music with some simple yet effective cyc looks.”
Jeremy reports that the grandMA set up ran smoothly with no issues what so ever.
“When we knew that we needed another grandMA we looked at buying another full size console but for our applications, the grandMA Lite was the better option,” he said. “It’s more practical for us as many people run back up consoles these days. Really the grandMA Lite does everything the larger console can but it’s a lot smaller.
“Since acquiring our grandMA Lite is has been on numerous shows, working flat out. It’s a really powerful console that is small so it can fit into many situations especially the corporate work that we do. It’s become a very popular, little desk!”
www.showtech.com.au

TLS Production switch to Martin MAC’s
Perth-based TLS Productions custom design and supply lighting, audio, and visuals for large and small events including concerts, product launches, exhibitions and conferences, award nights, public, private and corporate events.
Their moving light inventory has traditionally been a competitor’s product but finally TLS have seen the light and opted to purchase Martin MAC’s! Last month they took delivery of eight Martin MAC700 fixtures plus eight Martin MAC250 Entours.
Production Manager Guillaume Laurent found clients consistently requesting Martin MAC’s and so, to keep up with technology trends, he raided his piggy bank and finally committed himself.
“The fixtures are great, compact and the price was right,” he added. “The MAC’s do what they’re meant to do. In fact I couldn’t go wrong with the purchase. The MAC700’s are being used for a wide variety of events and I’m really impressed by the quality of light that comes out of them. I’m quite surprised by the variety of looks I’m able to achieve with the MAC700’s, they really are effective.”
“The MAC250 Entour’s were certainly a welcome bonus!” he said. “They’re great for our smaller shows and like the MAC700’s, they’re very compact. When we picked up all sixteen of the MAC’s, I was able to fit them all in one one-ton van which was pretty cool and something I never thought I’d be able to do!”
www.showtech.com.au

Barco Acquires High End Systems Inc.
Barco announces the acquisition of High End Systems, Inc., a global technology provider of automated luminaires, digital lighting and lighting controls. Based in Austin, Texas, High End Systems employs 156 people and is a profitable company with USD 44 million sales in 2007. With the merging of two strong industry players, this acquisition reinforces Barco’s leadership position in the fast converging video and lighting segments. The total value of the transaction is USD 55 million, which implies an EBITDA multiple of around 8 on the past 12 months. The impact on 2008 EPS is estimated to be about neutral due to the required IFRS restatements.
Eighty percent of High End Systems’ sales are realized in the Events (Rental & Staging) market, which makes it a perfect match for Barco. Today Barco is already the leader in four product areas of this market with its LED video displays, its large venue projectors, Creative LED products and a full range of Image Processing products. High End Systems will be fully integrated into Barco’s Media and Entertainment division.
With the growing convergence of lighting and video technologies, the acquisition of High End Systems is a merger of two strong industry players and as a combined force it will hold a leading position in this converged digital video and lighting space, enabling further growth. This is fully in line with the strategic goal of enlarging Barco’s presence in each of the key markets it is active in.
Stephan Paridaen, President of Barco’s Media and Entertainment division states: “We are proud and excited about joining forces with the leading player in the digital lighting market. High End’s differentiated product line-up and recent product introductions are clearly proof of their market-led vision and strong R&D focus. We look forward to introducing many new and exciting products into the converged lighting/video space together.”
“The acquisition is a great outcome for the employees of High End Systems and we are confident that the combined creativity and customer focus of Barco and High End Systems will deliver superior technology for the global entertainment markets,” said Merritt Belisle, Chairman of High End Systems, Inc.
The acquisition provides Barco also with an additional patent portfolio in the digital lighting market, along with increased distribution channels and product offerings worldwide. The acquisition further strengthens Barco’s position in North America, another strategic goal, and will create an opportunity to strengthen its natural hedging over time as the High End Systems product portfolio will be further rolled out globally.
High End Systems, Inc. was majority owned by Generation Partners, a US private equity firm (www.generation.com).
More details on the acquisition will be provided with 2Q08 results on 23 July 2008.

Entertainment Installations get even more Martin MAC700’s
Entertainment Installations on the NSW Central Coast has increased its ever-growing Martin MAC inventory with the purchase of four more MAC700 profiles taking the total MAC700 tally to sixteen. Having taken advantage of Show Technology’s recent promotion, whereby if you purchased a MAC700 you got a free MAC250 Entour, Neale Mace, managing director of Entertainment Installations is one happy client!
“It was a great value-for-money offer I couldn’t resist!” said Neale. “Our MAC700’s are becoming a regular workhorse on our larger shows. In fact we were running out and needed some more anyway and I don’t think they will be the last ones we buy either!”
Neale describes the MAC700 as an extraordinary light that is reliable, has a fantastic output, great colour mixing, superb effects and zoom capabilities…..what more could a guy want? Neale is also delighted with his bonus MAC250 Entours which he finds ideal for the corporate and smaller size shows.
Entertainment Installations currently have a total of sixty-four Martin MAC’s including MAC700 Profile, MAC250 Entour, MAC250 Wash and Martin TW1’s.
Four recent concerts that relied on the MAC700s for the majority of their lighting were Sebastian Bach who utilized 8 x MAC700, 8 x Martin TW-1, and 4 x Martin Atomic Strobes whilst Whitesnake had 8 x MAC700, 4 x Studio Due CS4 and 8 x Martin TW-1. Sonu Niigaam used 12 x MAC700 and Porcupine Tree (pictured) had 8 x MAC700 profiles.
Eight MAC700, as well as some TW1’s, go on tour this week with Shannon Noll. Bryce Mace has designed the lighting which will travel in style in Entertainment Installation’s new truck.
www.showtech.com.au

Innovative keep innovative with Martin
Innovative Production Services has increased its inventory with some innovative products; four Martin MAC TW1, four MAC700 profiles, four MAC250 Entours and eight Martin Stagebar 54Ls.
Jeremy Koch, Innovatives’ managing director has a strong theatrical background as does one of his lighting employees Alex Grierson and so they were both drawn to the TW1.
“Alex has a lot of passion and theatricality in his design and we were looking for something new and different for him,” commented Jeremy. “We needed a product that was not only cost-effective and lightweight, but also it needed to have a certain level of market acceptance. This was our first major moving light purchase and we needed to be confident that our first step into the market was going to be a good decision and have a positive return on investment.
“We found the TW1’s to be nothing short of amazing. We lit a gig at the Hordern Pavilion and the front wash of the entire stage was done by just four MAC TW1 fixtures. They’re extremely bright, extremely quiet – in fact they’re awesome!”
Innovative recently took advantage of one of Show Technology’s fabulous deals – Buy a MAC700 profile and get a MAC250 Entour for free! This deal came at exactly the right time for Innovative who required a fixture that was small and light for their smaller jobs but at the same time, as they are doing so many larger jobs these days, a light that would satisfy the requirements of these larger shows and the MAC250 Entours were just not bright enough.
“We couldn’t find one light that was ticking all of these boxes but once this deal came up we saw it as a great opportunity!” he said. “The MAC700’s satisfy are larger jobs whilst the MAC250 Entours are deal for the smaller productions. Both lights are fabulous and ideal for their required applications.”
Jeremy continued spending with the purchase of eight Martin Stagebar 54L LED luminaires to initially meet his needs for some ‘eye candy’ that was too expensive.
“The colour