Armed with the latest in forensic tools, our team of investigators have scoured the Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas to unearth key clues to help you in your continuous search for the latest in new and useful lighting, sound, staging, and projection gear. The following report highlights some of our latest findings — it's all new stuff never before seen in the pages of the magazine — but you can use your own powers of detection to uncover even more cool new products at The Entertainment Technology Show — LDI, to be held October 22-24. Let the investigation begin!
LIGHTING
Strand Lighting Accent DMX Architectural Controls
Booth 3216
Strand is introducing its new Accent controls at ETS-LDI 2004. The new controls offer two, four, and eight presets and are stand alone lighting systems that fit standard single gang back boxes. Each station outputs up to 48 DMX channels that may be recorded into two, four, or eight preset scenes. Each preset can have its own unique fade time with all levels and times programmed by the included slim infrared remote. A remote is provided with each station making programming and remote access simple for all users. The remote can be used to playback or record any of the presets available on each station. Up to eight stations may be linked on a single DMX cable and they can be set up as either single stations in a series of up to eight rooms or they may be combined into groups of multi-station rooms as needed.
STRAND LIGHTING
NEW YORK, NY
WWW.STRANDLIGHT.COM
CIRCLE 100 ON READER SERVICE CARD
ETC SmartFade Console
Booth 3300
ETC will show SmartFade, the newest addition to the company's Smart solutions line. A compact lighting console that has inherited the family traits of quality and reliability and put them in a budget-priced package, SmartFade is geared to first-time users, educational establishments, and amateur groups but the console also offers all the control performance required by lighting professionals. SmartFade has three operating modes: Two Preset, Normal, and DMX Backup. For novice or first-time users, the simple two-preset mode provides a small, easy to operate 12 or 24 channel, two-preset console with a manual or timed cross fade section, bump buttons with master and a grand master. Normal mode is designed for more experienced users, providing 48 or 96 channels with 288 or 576 memories and 48 sequences. The DMX512 input facility enables SmartFade to be used as a replacement for ETC's Reflection backup console, providing backup for any DMX512 lighting console.
ETC
MIDDLETOWN, WI
WWW.ETCCONNECT.COM
CIRCLE 102 ON READER SERVICE CARD
Advanced Lighting Systems, Inc.
LiveLED™ 100
Booth 3644
Advanced Lighting Systems, Inc. (ALSI) is introducing the LiveLED™ 100 LED fixture. The compact, yoke-mounted Live-LED 100 is designed to provide the output and performance required for production environments and the versatility and long life required for architectural installations. The LiveLED 100 was designed primarily as a color wash cyc light with interchangeable lenses for narrow, oval and wide beam control. The 100W fixture achieves a 1400 lumen output using approximately 1A of power. The LiveLED 100 features an integrated power supply, drivers, and DMX control eliminating the need for external components and dimmer packs. RGB color mixing allows for 16.7 million colors using either a DMX controller or onboard pre-programmed macros activated via a user-friendly rotary knob control panel.
ADVANCED LIGHTING SYSTEMS, INC.
SAUK CENTRE, MN
WWW.ADVANCEDLIGHTING.COM
CIRCLE 103 ON READER SERVICE CARD
Wybron Nexera CDM Fixtures
Booth 2208
The Nexera family of dichroic CMY color mixing luminaires now features a CDM source. The ceramic metal halide models offer a 10,000-hour lamp life and full mechanical dimming (via a fourth flag in the color module). Compact 150W lamps provide even illumination across a slightly cooler color temperature. These fixtures have been designed for venues with concerns for safety and lower maintenance budgets, such as churches and schools. The convection cooling system allows for virtually silent operation while maintaining optimal light output.
WYBRON, INC.
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO
WWW.WYBRON.COM
CIRCLE 104 ON READER SERVICE CARD
BigLites America BigLite 4.5 Xenon
Booth 2831
BigLites is introducing the BigLite 4.5 xenon developed by ZAP Technology in Paris, France in conjunction with Lumient, LP of Dallas, TX. The BigLite 4.5 offers lighting designers real-time color mixing and diffusion with electronic strobe effects and energy-saving standby modes improving bulb life, fan noise, and heat output. The fixture will generate a spot to wash effect 3x per second and moves at speeds up to 3x faster than the competition. The space-aged plastic shells are water resistant, highly durable, and are available in virtually any color. The fixture is technician friendly, with all standard maintenance accomplished with only three tools. DMX programming is a breeze, with onboard pre-programmed shows and a user-friendly menu on the fixture and ballast. The BigLite 4.5 is a versatile product ideal for indoor and outdoor applications. The fixture is specifically designed for concert tours, film and television, “architainment,” and live events. BigLites Europe and BigLites America are releasing this fixture for rental and permanent installation sales starting in January 2005.
BIG LITES AMERICA
(A DIVISION OF LUMIENT, LP)
CARRELTON, TX
WWW.BIGLITES.COM
CIRCLE 105 ON READER SERVICE CARD
GE SHOWBIZ® CSR Metal Halide Line
Booth 2217
GE Consumer & Industrial Lighting debuts the GE CSR18000/SE/HR lamp at ETS-LDI 2004. Designed for use in PAR fixtures to deliver maximum output, GE will show the lamp in a Mole Richardson fixture. Another addition is the CSR800/ SE/HR lamp. Together, the two new lamps give GE the most extensive range of single-ended, hot restrike lamps in the industry.
GE CONSUMER & INDUSTRIAL LIGHTING
LOUISVILLE, KY
WWW.GELIGHTING.COM
CIRCLE 106 ON READER SERVICE CARD
Lighting & Electronics, Inc.
The Little Dipper™
Booth 1409
The Little Dipper™ is a 575W floodlight designed to provide the same illumination quality as a traditional scoop fixture, but with the goal of being lighter, smaller, and more cost effective to operate. Similar to the scoop, The Little Dipper gives coverage of a broad area with an even, diffuse wash. The fixture features a wide angle, round beam that provides a soft and smooth field of light and color. The fixture uses the medium two-pin series of lamps, one of the most common lamp series in use, for greater availability at lower operating costs.
LIGHTING & ELECTRONICS, INC
WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY
WWW.LE-US.COM
CIRCLE 107 ON READER SERVICE CARD
Martin Professional Woodroffe Gobo Collection
Booths 850, 855, 1256
Renowned lighting designer Patrick Woodroffe, working with his longtime associate designer Adam Bassett, has designed a new set of gobos for the industry standard MAC 2000 Profile, dubbed The Woodroffe Gobo Collection. “Our aim in designing a new set of gobos for the MAC 2000 Profile, was to give a new lease of life to a well-loved and familiar fixture, and to allow designers to rediscover its potential,” says Woodroffe. “We were determined that each gobo had to work on its own merits, either as a simple projection or as a kinetic effect when looking back down the light. The three-dimensional depth and mesmeric effects as the designer combines different gobos in their various permutations should be seen as a bonus!” All of the new gobos will be produced in glass in order to give the best image quality possible, both in terms of output and picture sharpness.
THE MARTIN GROUP
HOLLYWOOD, FL
WWW.MARTINPRO.COM
CIRCLE 108 ON READER SERVICE CARD
RIGGING/SFX
Insul-8 Corporation DMX GafferReel
Booth 2043
DMX, Ethernet, and audio signals can be very sensitive. Cable reels for such systems require special slip rings and cable to maintain signal integrity. Now, Insul-8 engineers have developed a GafferReel specifically designed for DMX applications. The reel features a signal slip ring, low-capacitance cable, and industry-standard connectors for ease of installation. The signal slip ring is compact and fully enclosed with gold-on-gold contacts to protect signal integrity and prevent oxidation. The V-groove ring design and precision ball bearings provide smooth rotation, low torque, and low electrical noise — a must for sensitive signals and data. The braided shield, low-capacitance cable is designed for high-speed, low-distortion data handling. Industry-standard five-pin connectors are included on both the feeder cable and the spool cable for fast and easy installation. The reel is compact (14"×8" ×12") and lightweight (less than 25 lbs.) to allow installation in nearly any location. A range of cable lengths are available to handle various applications.
INSUL-8 CORPORATION
OMAHA, NE
WWW.INSUL-8.COM
CIRCLE 110 ON READER SERVICE CARD
Total Structures Element Truss
Booth 605
Two new trusses have been added to Total Structures' range of industry standard and innovative custom trusses. They are versions of the 12" and 20.5" box truss. The new ranges, called Element 12 and Element 20, are compatible with the original Light Duty and Medium Duty designs (now over 20 years old). Engineering exercises were undertaken which significantly enhanced the strength of the 12" version both over short and longer spans. The Element range is designed in accordance with ANSI E1.2 standard. If Element 12 truss is used with light duty truss, then the allowable charts for light duty truss shall be used. The new Element range is fabricated by Certified Welders and is subject to a stringent quality assurance procedure.
TOTAL STRUCTURES
VENTURA, CA
WWW.TOTALSTRUCTURES.COM
CIRCLE 111 ON READER SERVICE CARD
Look Solutions Touring Unique
Booth 1228
Look Solutions' popular water-base hazer, the Unique, is now available as a touring version. The new Touring Unique is built into an ATA flight case. It can be operated without taking it out of the case — just remove the lid and plug it in; warmup time is only 1 minute. Then you can create huge (or small) amounts of water-base haze by utilizing the stand-alone controls, or an Analog or DMX controller. The pump and fan can be adjusted separately in steps of 1%, so any desired effect can be achieved. The machine is practically silent and the LED-display and intuitive symbols allow for easy operation. Special fluid yields an optimal haze effect with minimal fluid consumption (the 2-liter canister lasts, on average, 50 hours). The Touring Unique has three handles for easy transporting and storage.
LOOK SOLUTIONS
RONNENBURG, GERMANY
WWW.LOOKSOLUTIONS.COM
CIRCLE 112 ON READER SERVICE CARD
SOFTWARE, ETC.
Artistic Licence Jump-Start
Booth 3138
Jump-Start is a small, hand-held RDM and DMX512 programmer. As the new Remote Device Management (RDM) protocol gains acceptance, the DIP switches on the rear of moving lights will gradually disappear — there is no need for them as RDM allows the lighting console to patch the lights. Jump-Start plugs into the DMX connector and displays all important information: start address, footprint, personality, sensors, temperature, voltage, lamp hours, etc. You can also plug it into the lighting rig and auto-patch all the lights. It can also ask the light to strike, dowse, or self-test, or it can operate as a straightforward DMX tester. Individual channels can be set to a level or they can ramp continuously. Channel settings can also be stored to memory.
ARTISTIC LICENCE (UK) LTD.
MIDDLESEX, UK
WWW.ARTISTICLICENCE.COM
CIRCLE 114 ON READER SERVICE CARD
Wireless Solution
Swelite W-DMX
W-DMX is a new wireless DMX system developed by Wireless Solution AB in Sweden. The W-DMX is a compact, plug and play unit free from interference from other products in the 2.45GHz band. Using the well-established mobile telephone GSM technology in the 2.45GHz licence-free band, the W-DMX avoids many of the problems associated with ordinary wireless networking products. The products are all DMX512A- and RDM-ready, and the firmware can be updated using a separate data channel, which is also used for system set up. Up to 8,192 receivers can be controlled from one system. Ranges of up to 30km are possible (US Spec equipment only), with up to 12km in Europe.
WIRELESS SOLUTION AB
UDDEVALLA, SWEDEN
WWW.WIRELESSDMX.COM
CIRCLE 115 ON READER SERVICE CARD
Doug Fleenor Design, Inc.
DMX Coffee Pot, Mark II
Booth 1821
“Finally!” is the word Doug Fleenor Design uses to reintroduce the DMX Coffee Pot, first debuted at LDI in 1997 and now available for purchase. Previously only available by lease, the company follows the lead of many moving light companies by allowing their technology to be purchased outright. Operation of the Mark II has been simplified, featuring internal termination (there is no feed through) and remote address setting (there is no DMX address switch). Remote address setting is accomplished via RDM making this the first (and only) RDM Coffee Pot, as well. Watch out, Krups!
DOUG FLEENOR DESIGN, INC.
ARROYO GRANDE, CA
WWW.DFD.COM
CIRCLE 116 ON READER SERVICE CARD
Robert Juliat Espion DMX Analyzer
Booth 1335
Robert Juliat will unveil the Espion DMX analyzer, a battery powered, hand-held diagnostic tool with features that include cable testing, signal input, signal output with macros, memory recording, data diagnostics and correction, and moving light libraries. Espion can be connected to a PC through a USB port and is supplied with software that allows real time data display and control applications. Espion comes with a leather case and belt clip.
ROBERT JULIAT USA
WALLINGFORD, CT
WWW.ROBERTJULIAT.FR
CIRCLE 117 ON READER SERVICE CARD
Rosco Laboratories LPS Mobile
Booth 2608
Take your paperwork anywhere with LPS Mobile from Rosco, allowing you to view and edit lighting paperwork from your Pocket PC PDA. It can read/write files from the LPS desktop application and import/export to comma- or tab-separated files for use with other paperwork and drafting programs. LPS Mobile includes most of the functionality of LPS Pro, including the ability to completely edit paperwork; the Unit Type Wizard, Color Wizard, and Template Wizards are all included, as are the Color Scroller and Gobo Rotator Wizards.
ROSCO
STAMFORD, CT
WWW.ROSCO.COM
CIRCLE 118 ON READER SERVICE CARD
Birket Engineering
Pocket Pyro™
Booth 2417
The Pocket Pyro™ Miniature Pyrotechnic Controller is designed for the stringent safety and performance needs of live-action productions and complements Birket's larger pyrotechnic system. The four-channel controller is a little larger than a cigarette pack and powered by an internal 9V battery. The sturdy lightweight polymer case is easily hidden and operated via remote control to produce either manually or automatically timed effects. You may use the included miniature remote control (suitable for one-thumb operation) or integrate custom controls into your production's costumes or scenery. The remote's wiring snaps in and out for speedy pre-show preparation. Spring-loaded terminals accommodate up to four standard electric matches. (For safety, multiple matches per channel are not supported.) The microcontroller is factory-configured to manually fire one channel each time you press the [FIRE] button, but any PC can quickly define desired timing requirements with 100-millisecond accuracy. The configuration software is embedded in the controller itself and is compatible with all Windows and Macintosh computers with a RS-232 port.
BIRKET ENGINEERING
OCOEE, FL
WWW.BIRKET.COM
CIRCLE 121 ON READER SERVICE CARD
SOUND
JBL PD5000 Series
Booth 3114
JBL Professional will be showing four additions to the Precision Directivity™ PD5000 Series. The loudspeakers include the new two-way PD5200/43 (with a 40×30 coverage pattern), two three-way PD5322 models (PD5322/95 and PD5322/64 with 90×50 and 60×40 coverage patterns respectively) and a full-range two-way PD5212/43 model (40×30 coverage pattern). The PD5212/43 features a horn-loaded 12” low frequency driver, a large format high-frequency compression driver and delivers frequency response from 80Hz to 18kHz. PD5200 loudspeakers feature a high power 8” dual-coil CMCD™ (Cone Midrange Compression Driver), providing high sensitivity and high continuous SPL capability with low distortion, extended bandwidth and improved phase coherence. The PD5322 are three-way loudspeakers based on the PD5200 mid/high design with the addition of two JBL Professional 2206 Vented Gap Cooled™ 600W 12” transducers providing LF extension to 40 Hz.
JBL PROFESSIONAL
NORTHRIDGE, CA
WWW.JBLPRO.COM
CIRCLE 122 ON READER SERVICE CARD
DiGiCo D1 Live
Booth 2728
DiGiCo will show the D1 Live, which has all the extensive features of the D5 Live, and provides the audio solutions synonymous with DiGiCo brand, but in a smaller, lighter package. A brand new MADI card gives a dramatic price reduction by providing a fully digital link from stage to FOH for up to 100m of coax cable, where previously 50m was the maximum run, and so dispensing with the need for expensive optical fiber. The console is supplied in four main feature configurations creating a direct replacement for an analogue console.
DIGICO
SURREY, UK
WWW.DIGICONSOLES.COM
CIRCLE 123 ON READER SERVICE CARD
PROJECTION
MODE Studios Media Modes™
Booth 2744
Media Modes™ are themed collections of digital content created for use in media servers. The first three collections in the Media Modes series are Vegas Baby™, Crack House™, and Big Backdrops 1™. Vegas Baby™ features full motion clips of glittering light walls, chasing neon shapes, and retro Vegas graphics for masking and layering. Crack House™ paves the way to gritty streets, dark industrial gloom, and powerful graphics that travel a seamier side. Big Backdrops 1™ provides theatrical designers with high definition panoramic scenic backdrops that range from the photographic to the fantastical. The collections will be available individually, with a special purchase price for all three. The first three collections will premiere at this year's ETS-LDI show, with further collections already in the works.
MODE STUDIOS
SEATTLE, WA
WWW.MODESTUDIOS.COM
CIRCLE 125 ON READER SERVICE CARD
SHOW CONTROL
Medialon Manager V3
Booth 3244
Medialon will be demonstrating a significant up-grade to Manager V3 as well as previewing Manager V4, which will be available at the end of 2004. The new redundancy mechanism in V3 (which will also be in V4) allows users to hot swap from one PC to another during a show in the event that a PC fails. In the past, it was not possible to tell a controlled device that it is no longer controlled by PC #1, because, even if PC #1 has failed, the device thinks it was still owned by it. The new mechanism allows PC #2, if it detects that PC #1 has failed, to tell all devices that it is now in control and that they should respond to it rather than the first PC. This new feature is a very important step as producers can rely on show control for highly complex extravaganzas while not having to worry about bottlenecks. This implementation was recently installed at The Lido in Paris and will be demonstrated in Medialon's booth. Also, during the Show Control Session on Saturday morning, October 23, Medialon President Alex Carru will present the Lido case study.
MEDIALON INC.
MIAMI FL
WWW.MEDIALON.COM
CIRCLE 109 ON READER SERVICE CARD
SOFT GOODS
Rose Brand Charisma
Booth 1412
Rose Brand introduces the Charisma stage curtain. An elegant matte velour, the inherently flame retardant Charisma is an option for main stage curtains (as recently discovered by Harrah's Casino in Atlantic City). Charisma's substantial weight, 27 oz., helps to provide an incredible depth of color. Moreover, the fabric is capable of absorbing light like a cotton velour while still maintaining the advantages of an IFR Trevira CS synthetic velour. It has also proven to be superior for sound absorbency. Stocked in black, custom colors available by special order.
ROSE BRAND
NEW YORK, NY
WWW.ROSEBRAND.COM
CIRCLE 113 ON READER SERVICE CARD
ENTTEC Datagate
Booth 3129
The Datagate is a versatile DMX/Ethernet tool available in three models. The Datagate D is a DMX Splitter with one dedicated input and eight outputs, however, the outputs can also be used as inputs. It is designed for versatile production, as users can change the mark time or adjust the refresh rate. The Datagate D is RDM/Talkback compatible, and all the ports are opto-isolated up to 1,500 V, protecting the equipment from dangerous voltages. The second model, the DM is a DMX Splitter but also an HTP/LTP merger. Users can take DMX streams from two or more control desks and merge them to other ports on the Datagate, providing isolated splits of the new signal. The DME, the third Datagate version, has the added benefit of being a fully configurable Ethernet in/out node. The DME allows users to take two control desks with standard DMX outputs, merge their signals, and send the combined DMX data through the Datagate's Ethernet port to a wireless local area network. The Datagate is compatible with the Art-Net and ESP DMX-over-Ethernet protocols, as well as being compliant with RDM/Talkback bidirectional DMX.
ENTTEC
VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA
WWW.ENTTEC.COM
CIRCLE 119 ON READER SERVICE CARD
West Side Systems Virtual Light Lab
The VLL 3 is a computer simulation of a large stage lighting laboratory. Lighting design ideas can be explored, compared, presented, discussed, modified, and printed. It provides an easy way to demonstrate principles of lighting angles and additive color mixing, to explore the effects of color and composition in the context of stage lighting, to explain lighting ideas to a director or choreographer, or just to play in a very well-equipped small theatre. Models can be illuminated from 70 different angles, using a library of over 700 industry standard filter colors, plus over 1,300 RGB and CMY color mixes. Colors can be changed instantly, light intensities set and balanced, and a breakup template can be dropped into any light. Multiple copies of models can be placed anywhere on the stage, and each copy can be painted with any color and can be lighted individually. A backdrop image can be lit behind them. The stage setups can be recorded as scenes and be played back for review and discussion. Virtual Light Lab 3 can be used with Macintosh OSX, Windows 98, ME, 2000, and XP.
FUTURE LIGHT, INC.
CLEVELAND, OH
WWW.FUTURE-LIGHT.COM
CIRCLE 120 ON READER SERVICE CARD
MA Lighting Technology grandMA Video
Booth 2605
The grandMA Video software enables the operator to animate videos, graphics, and 3D objects in real time via a grandMA lighting console. In contrast to other media servers, grandMA Video offers the possibility to choose any kind of animated 3D projection objects. Videos, graphics, and 3D objects can be selected, scaled, positioned, tiled, colored, and manipulated in several other ways, intuitively, like controlling a “digital fixture” via the console. The software is specially tailored for grandMA range of lighting consoles and is integrated fully into the network protocol, guaranteeing minimum set up and reducing issues that arise when setting up two different devices.
MA LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY
PADERBORN, GERMANY
WWW.MALIGHTING.DE
CIRCLE 124 ON READER SERVICE CARD