sound & stage - october 2011

THE CONSULTANTElie Khairallah on the key to

Venuetech’s success p24

CIRCULAR AMBITIONSMILOS’ largest ever project

in the Middle East p28

GUEST COLUMNDavid Thirion road-tests new

Sennheiser mics p30

Vol: 5 Issue: 10 October 2011 An ITP Business Publication

The announcements, the launches, the awards...

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The announcements, the launches,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ttttttthe awards...t t l hes the awards

SPECIALWho was at the

Event’s Industry

Night Out?

PIC

Visit us on October 09 - 13, 2011 at Saeed hall 08 Stand e8-10Dubai World Trade Centre

CONTENTS

01OCTOBER 2011 SAS

October 2011Volume 5, Issue 1005 News round-up

12 COVER STORY: PLASA: show reportNew products, company announce-ments and award winners.

24 The consultantElie Khairallah from Venuetech calls for greater knowledge in the region.

28 Circular ambitionsS&S tours MILOS TrussingÊs largest ever project in the Middle East.

30 Guest columnSound recordist David Thirion road tests new Sennheiser microphones.

36 Picture specialA look at who turned out for the sec-ond EventÊs Industry Night Out.

41 Buyer’s guideThe latest and greatest in DJ technolo-gy including new mixers and software.

48 The guideThis monthÊs hottest new products from Martin, GLP and more.

52 Webpage

54 The hitlist

56 Backstage

41

30 24

Cover images courtesy of Chris Toulmin.

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EDITOR’S COMMENT

02SAS OCTOBER 2011

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Also in this issue are all the party pics from the second Event’s Industry Night Out, hosted last month at the Raffl es Hotel, Dubai by Dana Haubold and Stefan Weiland. As well as helping to raise awareness of the Peace One Day charity initiative that took place concurrently around the world, the event was also a platform for the launch of the local chapter of the International Special Events Society (ISES). You can read more about the purpose of the membership body and how it will operate on page 39.

We have an exciting month ahead – not only is InfoComm upon us, which for the fi rst time will run side-by-side with GITEX technology Week, but we also have what most of you would regard as the kick-off of the region’s live events season, with Flash’s Yas Island show weekends welcoming Janet Jackson and Metallica this month ahead of the huge after-race concerts that will take place in November. So whether you’re on-site working, or are part of the crowd, I hope to see you there!

Another year and another PLASA show has been and gone. This year, there were a number of familiar faces from the local industry at Earls Court, having made the trip over to London to attend. And in 2011, more

than ever, it seemed that informal networking was the name of the game. While some of the major names in the Middle East production market said that they were on the lookout for new stock, almost everyone I spoke to at the show admitted that at the end of the day, PLASA was all about catching up with old colleagues and friends – and maybe squeezing in a bit of business in between drinks.

But this is in no way a bad thing – most will attest to strong relationships being the key to commercial acomplishment. Elie Khairallah, technical director at Dubai-based Venuetech says he attributes much of the distributor’s success over the years to the relationships it has built and maintained locally with clients, and internationally with manufacturers. He gives an insight into the strategy behind the firm, as well as his picks of some of the hottest new products on the market, in this month’s interview on page 24.

Brooke [email protected]

It’s who you know...

05OCTOBER 2011 SAS

www.digitalproductionme.com

Renkus-Heinz gets sporty with major Gulf stadium installationsAudio specialist Renkus-Heinz has complet-ed three major installations at Gulf sporting venues – two at soccer stadiums in Qatar and the other at the Dubai International Swim Stadium.

The Al-Rayyan and Al-Gharafa stadiums in Qatar, each near identical in design and with a capacity of 25,000 apiece, have each been equipped with a custom-designed IC Live digitally beam steerable PA system, confi gured to deliver music, safety an-nouncements and match commentary in the largely roofl ess venues, which are owned by the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC).

Consultant Fredrik Setterberg of Swedish audio specialists Solifl ex was called in the fi ne-tune the design and, he explained,, this has turned out to be another world fi rst for the versatile IC Live system, which was installed by local contractor Al-Tamas.

Said Setterberg: “It was a very fast job from start to fi nish - about a month from the order being received. We and Al-Tamas equipped two stadiums with 16 IC Live ar-rays and two sub-woofers in each stadium, each connected via RHAON (Renkus-Heinz Audio Operations Network). We originally planned to have the loudspeakers on the edge of the pitch shooting upwards towards

the audience, but the QOC asked for a re-design, partly because of visibility issues. The main challenge was to massively improve intelligibility across the seating areas without interfering with sightlines - and without a roof to hang speakers from.”

He continued: “We solved it by mount-ing the IC Live columns on custom-built downward-angled mounting poles on the stadium’s outer wall, with the cabinets upside-down to get the high frequency drivers as close to the audience as possible. A combination of the mechanical angling and IC Live’s beam steering aims the sound directly across the spectators’ heads.

“The solution worked out really well. We have very good STI values, and the SPL is more than enough to cover the whole arena - even with all the crowd noise.”

In the Emirate of Dubai in the UAE, the 18,000-seat Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Sports Complex is divided into main pool and training pool areas and includes, suspended from the soaring arched roof, a long gantry carries a PA system that’s designed for both audio quality and cost effi ciency in equal measure.

As Renkus-Heinz Middle East sales repre-sentative Norbert Bau explained: “The initial sound system design specifi ed 40 large speakers hanging from the ceiling. We felt the budget could be used more effectively, so we submitted an alternative, via our consultant, Ricardo Castro at RCE Electroa-custica, to convert the main competition hall system design to just four IC Live Duals and two IC Live singles.”

Bau continued: “The VIP and VVIP stands are covered by two SG151 compact two-way loudspeakers to add extra warmth to the sound in those areas. In effect it means we are able to deliver even sound coverage to all 18,000 seats in the stadium with a main system of just eight loudspeakers.”

The Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Sports Complex in Dubai.

The Al-Rayyan stadium in Qatar.

06SAS OCTOBER 2011

THE BRIEFING

IN BRIEFROLAND ROADSHOW IN KUWAITNicolas Kyvernitis Electronics Enter-prises (NMK), Ro-land Professional distributors in the region, has hosted the third Roland Roadshow in Kuwait. The event, which attracted profession-als from the AV industry, included individuals from installation com-panies, live sound rental firms and broadcast integrators.

“Kuwait is a completely new territory for NMK, so the Roland Roadshow was a great way to enter the market,” commented Moswain Antao, Roland product specialist. “At-tendees to the event were very happy with the knowledge shared during the day and the opportunity to work with the latest equipment from Roland.”

AV specialist MediaPro AV has announced a gear investment totalling close to $800,000 for its Dubai offi ce.

The new stock will help meet demand over the coming events season, according to MediaPro AV’s operations manager A George Mathew.

Included in the purchase are 144 six-millimetre indoor LED panels, which will bring the fi rms complete stock of the product to 100 sq metres, making it one of largest LED screen suppliers in Middle East, said Mathew. The panels are targeted to-wards exhibition stand and stage design-ers as their sharpness is not aff ected by regular ambience bright lighting in large hall venues.

In a further upgrade to its LED capaci-ties, 60 sq meters of 30 millimetre trans-parent LED screens were also purchased. “We chose these because of the versatile creative solutions they offer our demand-

FUJAIRAH MEDIA ACQUIRES ROLAND MIXER

In further Roland news, NMK has supplied Fujairah Media with the manufacturers

VR5 audiovisual mixer. Based in the

Fujairah Media Free Zone, the production studio is used to produce and record various Arabic shows that are routed via the VR5 mixer from Roland.

The VR-5’s “all-in-one” solution is said to greatly simplify production, re-cording and streaming of live events.

“The VR5 has been one of our best sellers in the past quarter,” commented Moswain Antao, Ro-land Video Specialist. “The com-pact size and easy to use nature of the unit make it an obvious solution to most applications.”

Inn

mFuja

ing event managers!” said Mathew. “They are low in weight, easy to rig, the position-ing allows image creation with a surprise element and they blend easily with dark simple backgrounds.”

In addition, a HD 35K, DLP projector from Christie joins the inventory. “As we are one of the leading building projection/3D mapping producers in the Middle East, it was essential to invest in a reliable hardware solution,” said Mathew. “Our study narrowed in on the HD35K from Christie which is considered the world’s brightest, most reliable video projector.”

The company’s video inventory has also been boosted with the addition of a Hippo-tizer HD-Green Hippo media server capable of playing multiple layers of media in full 1080p resolution.

The exhibition rental division of Medi-aPro AV will also benefi t from new 46 inch seamless screens as well as new multi-touch screens, said Mathew.

Media Pro boosts inventory to the tune of almost $800,000

From left: Neeraj Pola, Jinesh Nair, A George Mathew and Marydas Abraham with the new Christie projector.

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08SAS OCTOBER 2011

THE BRIEFING

Harlequin reports busy Ramadan season with projects across the UAEDubai-based structure fi rm Harlequin has completed a busy summer season, including major Ramadan projects at high-end venues such as Emirates Palace and Fairmont Bab Al Bahr.

Working with Extra Cake, the fi rm produced an Iftar event at Abu Dhabi’s ADNEC for major corporate Mubadalla. The project included eight structures, custom-made Mashribiya walls and pillars, drapes and Arabic furniture to create a Heritage Village Area.

A Ramadan tent at the Habtoor Grand Hush Lounge in Dubai saw Harlequin supply an L-shaped structure with peaked roofs that featured starcloth roof lining. The temporary venue was used as a beach-front setting for Iftar and Suhour.

Also in Dubai, Harlequin’s event designers worked with the visual merchandising team at Galeries Lafayette in the Dubai Mall to

At the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, the fi rm was again commissioned for a Ramadan build, which this year was a lot bigger than previously. Existing marble fl ooring and fountain at the venue were incorporated in the space, giving a contemporary fi nish in keeping with the rest of the hotel. Custom linkways joined the hotel to the tent.

transform the fashion alleys with custom-made purple draping hung from an existing truss structure. Ramadan canopies with custom covers were also provided in the entrance to the store with Moroccan tables and multi coloured poufs to create the perfect space for welcoming customers into the store and to off er them coff ee and dates.

MELODY HOUSE SUPPLIES HK AUDIO TO SLS ROBERT JULIAT SELECTED FOR QNCC PROJECT

Svetlost Teatar of Belgrade has supplied the Qatar Education City Convention Centre in Doha with a large selection of Robert Juliat HMI profi les, followspots and Solo Fluorescent lighting.

The exterior of the QECCC complex resembles a Sidra tree - the national symbol of Qatar and the venue consists of 10 halls, including the 2500-seat Lyric Theatre, the 500-seat Concert Hall and a 4000-capacity banqueting and event facility.

Svetlost Teatar equipped the Lyric Theatre with Robert Juliat D’Artagnan 930 SNX 2.5kW HMI

profi les, complete with Jalousie 2 dimming shutters, and two Cyrano 2500W HMI followspots. Twenty-four Solo 744 fl uorescent strips were also added for linear eff ect production lighting.

A further 12 Solo units were installed in the Concert Hall along with two Super Korrigan 1200W HMI followspots.

Four more Cyrano followspots were provided for the banqueting and event space and additional fl uorescent Solo units were deployed building-wide to be used as decorative linear-eff ect lighting.

UAE HK Audio distributor Melody House supplied 22 Premium PR:O stage monitor cabinets to Dubai based rental fi rm, SLS Productions.

Like all HK Audio products, the Premium PR:O range is all about well-balanced, transparent sound and controlled power. The new active models feature easy-to-op-erate onboard electronics that are engineered to provide excellent

sound and utmost reliability in a surprisingly light package.

“SLS Productions has been very happy with the performance of their new purchase,” com-mented Dino Drimakis, business development manager at Melody House. “The compact size of the speakers is a great advantage as it allows them to be fl exible for various events.”

The Habtoor Grand project interior (left) and exterior.

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10SAS OCTOBER 2011

THE BRIEFING

MOVERS & SHAKERS AT ECLIPSE

Tania Taylor has been appointed as business develop-ment director at Eclipse Staging Services. Taylor has over 20 years experience in the AV production, event management and hotel industries.

“We welcome Tania Taylor to our team, Tania is a real professional and we sought her out for her role as Business Development Director as we were looking to fi ll this position for a considerable time,” said Mark Brown, chairman, Eclipse.

Another addition to the Eclipse team is Peter Rico, who takes up the position of auto CAD draftsman. Experienced in preparing technical drawings

“Working in the region had exposed him to gain considerable hands on knowledge of what it takes to consistently put out quality product with both techni-cal and creative talent,” said Brown.

The new additions are said to be in response to in-creased demand expected during the peak events season.

The fi rm has also hired Tom Ralston as its latest new project manager. With over six years experi-ence in the live event industry and holding fi rst class honours in a Sound, Light and Live Event Technology qualifi cation, Ralston will be respon-sible for the execution of wide range high profi le events; and lighting design, programming and operation for events ranging from expos, corporate events, live events and creative installations.

MOVERS & SHAKERS AT ECLIIPPSSSE

Stageco supplies Turkish festivalsStageco provided the festival stages for Rock’n Coke and the Fanta Youth Festival in Istanbul, Turkey this summer. Rock’n Coke took place on July 16 to 17 at Hezarfen Airfi eld. The popular festival, which has been running since 2003, attracts major international artists which this year included Limp Bizkit, Motorhead, Moby, Travis, Paolo Nutini and Skunk Anansie.

An audience of over 50,000 people at-tended, with the main stage capacity catering to 25,000 fans at any one time. Stageco provided its 18 by 14.5 metre Boogdak stage system, incorporating two PA wings with in-built video screens.

Uluc Dundar, production director at Rock’n Coke, said: “The Boogdak roof provides perfect clearance and width of performance area for the artists. The PA wings adds to the quality of the artist’s performances and helps to make the festival a big event in our territory.

“We have used Stageco’s Boogdak stage since 2003, and it has become an iconic part of the Rock’n Coke festival. Its structure allows us to work easily under it; behind the scenes,

to each other meant we could keep costs down for both events. We are very conscious that it is a tight economy at the moment, so we helped the organisers make further savings by sourcing the stage deck from the local area and saving on transport costs. Stageco project managers ensured the local materials were integrated into the stage to the high standards we are renowned for. The confi guration of the stage, with PA and video wings, was the same at both events and we had four Stageco crew working closely with a team of local staging professionals to set up and de-rig.”

Serol Agazat, freelance production man-ager for Fanta Youth Festival Istanbul 2011, said: “Stageco is one of the best companies to collaborate with. They provide the best equipment and a very experienced crew. Having Stageco involved in the show added signifi cant value to the production. With their perfect gear and aspect of the roof, it made the Istanbul leg of the tour diff erent than others.”

the roof is very useful for the incoming band production teams for safe rigging with a good weight capacity. We are really happy to work with Stageco and its professional team, start-ing from fi rst reserving the dates, to the fi nal delivery back to Stageco’s warehouse.”

The stage system was then de-rigged and moved via three trucks to its second Istanbul site, the Fanta Youth Festival in Santral on July 30.

Dirk De Decker, international project manager at Stageco, oversaw the projects. He said: “Having the two festivals so close

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12SAS OCTOBER 2011

COVER STORYCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYCOVER STORY

With preliminary visitor fi gures of over 12,000, showing a marginal increase over 2010 and strong international engagement from across the world, organisers PLASA Events are “delighted” with the positive feedback to this year’s PLASA 2011.

This year’s event sets the scene for a strong return to Earls Court in 2012. “Exhibitors have been enthusing about the high quality of visitors and the rate of sales

enquiries, and with hundreds of new products being launched, there has been a great return on investment for them. We expect to see many back here at Earls Court next year,” says events manager Sophie Atkinson.

Show report

12SAS OCTOBER 2011

Another year, another PLASA, and this year’s show wasn’t just about drinking and chatting – here we look at the highlights, including product

launches and company announcements.

13OCTOBER 2011 SAS


Visitors were also able to get their hands on some of the industry’s hottest new products – although many S&S spoke to at the show lamented that while new gear was in abundance (over 500 were launched at the show), truly ground-breaking and therefore game-changing products were few and far between.

PLASA 2011 did deliver an enhanced visitor experience, with a raft of new interactive features drawing substantial crowds, including the STLD’s LED luminaire shootout (which attracted crowds throughout the show), the expanded Theatres Trust Ecovenue feature and the new PLASA Production Bar.

Another big success was the second PLASA Rigging Conference, attended by 175 delegates from 18 countries, some travelling from as far as Malaysia, Singapore, Sweden, Canada, the USA, Hong Kong and Australia, to share their know-how and explore best practice in a fast changing field.

Over 70 rigging professionals also turned out for the informal Riggers’ Forum on the afternoon of Sunday 11 September - an increase of 60 per cent on expected numbers.

Equally popular was the expanded Education and Learning Programme, which drew over 2,200 people. Several key sessions, including the Gottelier

Masterclass by ETC’s Fred Foster, ‘Lighting Visualisation at the Royal Opera House’, the ALD’s ‘50 Years of Lighting’, the RST and Stage Electrics’ ‘Transforming Theatres’, Bernie Davies’ ‘Lighting Big Events for Television’ and MA Lighting’s ‘How the Sun works and why the fi xture weighs so much!’ were all standing room only.

Dave Swallow’s much anticipated session on ‘The Art of Mixing a Show’ was so oversubscribed that it was switched to the much larger Cromwell Room to meet demand for places.

“The seminar programme has continued to grow in both quantity and quality, and its popularity means we are being offered ever more exciting ideas for providing unique insights and sharing knowledge across the industry,” says Atkinson.

And the organisers for the show are already looking to 2012, when they promise new features will ensure the industry comes back to Earls Court again. “Take up for next year is already very strong, we’re already working on the next generation of ideas and we’re looking forward to a great PLASA 2012,” adds Atkinson.

The PLASA Show returns to Earls Court from Sunday 9 to Wednesday 12 September 2012.

14

COVER STORY

SAS OCTOBER 201114

ROBERobe showcased a raft of new products at the show, as well as offi cially launching what it says is the world’s fi rst RGBW LED based moving head, and the ROBIN 1200 LEDWash. There was also a preview of the ROBIN Sniper concept - a mega-bright fi xture with super-tight 230 millimetre parallel fat beam giving what onlookers described as “incredible” output.

Recognising that being “all about the people” is a vital key to success, Robe’s traditional Sunday night party slot once again enjoyed a massive buzz. Over 600 guests boogied the night away until the early hours at the Café de Paris in central London, entertained with live music, great food and a host of amusing elements - all combining to make an evening full of smiles, laughs and excellent interaction.

Robe’s CEO Josef Valchar sums up, “We had a fantastic show in all ways. The new products were very well received, which also reinforces our thoughts and ideas for the future. We met lots of international and high value new contacts in addition to many of our worldwide distributors along with a wide mix of our existing clients and friends, and it provided a great forum for all of us

to catch up on both business and social fronts. I think the exhibition continues to be among the most important in Europe for the entertainment sector”.

ETCWhen ETC introduced its iRFR (Radio Focus Remote for iPhone and iPod Touch) two years ago, Luke Delwiche from ETC Tech Services in London suggested that the profi ts be shared between the charity Light Relief and its US equivalent, Behind the Scenes. Little did his bosses realise just how much this would amount to.

At PLASA 2011, Luke presented Light Relief trustee Rick Fisher with a cheque for an amazing £12,458, collected over the previous 12 months. A similar amount of money will be presented to Behind the Scenes at the LDI show in October this year. These two cheques bring the total raised by the sale of the iRFR application to a staggering $86,000.

CEO Fred Foster says: “One of the nicest aspects is that each individual who has found our iRFR to be a useful tool has helped raise this money. Chris Mizerak, who developed it, has now built an android version which we are beta testing at the moment.”

In other ETC news, the manufacturer released the Gio console at the show. Designed to fi ll the mid-range position in the Eos family, between Eos and Ion, it offers the power of full Eos functionality, but in a smaller footprint. Features include integrated, articulating multi-touch displays and helpful backlit keys. The look of the desk itself is elegantly polished and minimalist.

ETC controls product manager Anne Valentino says: “We fi rst showed Gio to customers at our end user conference, Cue, in Wisconsin in July, and it had an extremely positive response. We’d had a lot of demand for a desk to fi ll the space between the full-size Eos and the highly compact Ion.”

ETC also showed for the fi rst time its new ultra bright, high colour, energy effi cient Selador Desire D40, D40XT and D60 lines of LED luminaires, including the unique Studio for broadcast work.

ARTISTIC LICENSE ENGINEERINGLumenRadio, technology leaders in wireless lighting control, announced their support for Art-Net 3, the latest release of the public domain Ethernet protocol from Artistic Licence Engineering at the show – going forward, Art-Net 3 will be supported in all of LumenRadio’s Ethernet enabled products.

Art-Net is supported by 200-plus international manufacturers, and is one of

EXHIBITOR NEWS

15OCTOBER 2011 SAS


the protocols of choice in LumenRadio’s smart and adaptive CRMX wireless lighting control system.

Art-Net 3 differs from earlier versions in one key respect - it’s -data capacity, which is at least two orders of magnitude greater than the 256 Universe limit of its predecessor, Art-Net II.

“By upgrading to Art-Net 3, we can be confi dent our products stay way ahead of the data demand curve,” explains LumenRadio’s senior R&D engineer, Michael Karlsson. “For example, one particular project that I recall used a single network to control a media server and distribute its output to a LED wall. Such a set-up

could easily break the limit of many of the Ethernet protocols in common use today.”

SHOWTEXThe Theatres Trust return to PLASA 2011 with an expanded version of its Ecovenue feature, the area that gives visitors the chance to see how 48 London theatres are putting sustainability into practice.

The feature took the form of a theatre-in-miniature, complete with ‘auditorium’, ‘stage’, ‘backstage’, ‘foyer’ and ‘box offi ce’. In each area The Theatres Trust demonstrated proven sustainability techniques, as well as featuring technologies from PLASA 2011 exhibitors, including display Oeko-Tex 100 standard certifi ed velvet velour from Showtex.

The fi rm custom made a variety of classic theatre curtains for the project from its range of eco-friendly fl ame retardant fabrics. The Shakespeare, Molière and newly added Goethe range of velvets developed by ShowTex are the fi rst in the industry to be Oeko-Tex 100 certifi ed and meet the strict M1 and BS5867 standards of fl ammability. The 100 per cent cotton velvets come in three different weights and a wide selection of colours including the exclusive UltraBlack.

MA LIGHTINGThe new grandMA2 software release

16

COVER STORY

(version 2.4) from MA lighting was a highlight for the developer at this year’s PLASA, as was its launch of Ambersphere Solutions, which is the new name of the fi rm’s UK distribution business.

“This year’s PLASA was the ideal platform for our new distributor to position itself in the market and to convince with its total support approach,” says MD Michael Althaus, who assures customers that they will continue to enjoy the same level of service and support from the newly named division as they have previously.

AVOLITESAvolites Media used PLASA as a platform to announce the formation of a strategic alliance with Immersive Ltd. Under the partnership, it now sole manufacturer of a suite of products under the brand name Ai.

Immersive is a re-seller of the Ai system, integrating the Ai product range into their global business of design, animation, motion graphics and show production.

The Ai media server, was been showcased in the UK for the fi rst time at the show with the aid of demonstrations and a show-reel presentation from a selection of Immersive productions which highlight the versatility and potential of the Ai product range.

MIDASMidas launched the latest additions to its PRO Series of digital consoles, the Midas PRO2 and PRO2C live audio systems, at PLASA 2011. The PRO2/PRO2C take the audio quality, performance and values of the top-end Midas XL8, and make them available at a price point well below the general-purpose mixing console average.

Despite being the smallest and least expensive Midas digital consoles, the PRO2 and PRO2C represent a quantum leap forward for digital mixing, both in technology and concept. Essentially the same console, the PRO2C has eight fewer input faders and the smaller frame. Both consoles share the same high quality components and fi nish as the rest of the PRO Series, including the legendary Alex Cooper-designed mic preamps, A-D converters, and daylight-viewable screens. This offers a reassuring continuity and

provides extreme functionality and sound quality in a vastly reduced footprint.

L-ACOUSTICSL-Acoustics unveiled its ARCS II constant curvature line source at PLASA, which apparently benefi ts from “design exploiting” L-Acoustics’ Wavefront Sculpture Technology in a constant curvature line source solution. Intended for medium to large rental productions, it delivers “remarkable” power, bandwidth and coherence, along with fl exible and predictable coverage. It also offers the audience an incomparable listening experience featuring clarity, precision and impact.

The bi-amplifi ed ARCS II enclosure is based on a two-way active design and offers a number of improvements

over the previous generation, primarily L-Acoustics’ K1 grade transducers for increased SPL (140 dB) and lower weight (50 kilograms). It also features a new front grill for enhanced durability and is driven by a single factory preset to effi ciently accommodate any application.

HARMAN Highlighting the latest in reliable digital wireless capabilities, Harman’s AKG introduced its DMS 70 digital wireless

microphone system at PLASA, a product it says is the fi rst true uncompressed digital wireless system in the industry. The DMS 70 operates in the 2.4GHz ISM band, a worldwide license-free frequency range, to ensure top-quality wireless operation for every customer.

“Harman’s AKG DMS 70 system offers exceptional studio-quality sound, thanks to its uncompressed digital audio transmission capability,” says Thomas Umbauer, product manager, AKG. “The DMS 70 is designed for the most exacting applications where the highest level of wireless audio performance is required.”

CHRISTIEChristie emulated its popular presentation from ProLight & Sound earlier this year at PLASA, with its new-look theatre taking up

a prime spot in Earls Court 1.Regarded by visitors as one of the most

innovative and dynamic expositions at PLASA, the Christie stand presented an integrated light show with video animations using Christie Nitro Solutions.

Noted lighting director Bruno Corsini was tasked with creating and choreographing the show in a convergence of video and lighting-derived patterns. Corsini has a long list of accomplishments, including last year’s landmark lightshow for Mexico’s

SAS OCTOBER 2011

17OCTOBER 2011 SAS


Bicentennial of Independence in the Mexican capital’s main square.

As in Frankfurt, the PLASA display was divided into two zones — one side featuring a simulated theatre/dancefl oor for the animated lightshow (piloted by Corsini himself), the other featuring a video mapping display using the brand new J Series and award-winning MicroTiles managed by a Christie Spyder X20 processor, in addition to a two-channel edge blend with two Christie Mirage WU12K-M projectors.

Of the Nitro Solutions, Corsini says, “No other solution on the market provides such a level of fl exibility and power. The brilliance of 22,000 lumens cuts through a lot of ambient and stray light from other sources and allows light engineers to break away from a traditional frame, shooting onto virtually any surface anywhere. This really offers new perspectives in lighting and events in general.”

CLAY PAKYPLASA sponsor and exhibitor Clay Paky gave visitors to its stand a peek at next year’s innovations and a chance to win one of the fi rm’s most sought-after products – the Sharpy – by playing one of a number of customer designed slot machines.

Last year the Sharpy, the Shotlight and the Alpha Profi le 700 hogged the PLASA limelight, this year, we saw the launch of the Alpha Spot QWO 800, a new 800W spotlight packed with features: a self-focusing zoom with a seven to 55 degree range; the Dyna-Cue Creator, capable of creating complex animations with minimum programming; an animation wheel for video-like projections; last but not least the fi xture is incredibly noise-free.

Also on display was Igloo, a fully outdoor enclosure that allows sub-700W moving lights to operate in the most severe weather conditions. Igloo comes with an onboard wireless DMX receiver, and a unique system that automatically maintains internal temperature above zero and below 35 degrees Celsius.

I-PIXSpecialist UK LED manufacturer i-Pix enjoyed what it says was its “best” PLASA to date.

The new higher powered light engines available across the full i-Pix BB range of fi xtures were particularly well received. Each new BB now emits four times the light output for the same power consumption, and the RGB light engine has been enhanced with a new green LED, improving the colour mixing CIE triangle available across the whole BB range.

However, the biggest buzz was around the new i-Pix Beamlight which was previewed for the fi rst time, generating huge amounts of positive and highly constructive feedback. The fi xture offers a new high brightness/low power alternative to the classic rock ‘n’ roll ACL ‘strings’, presenting similar stunning crisp, powerful beam effects in a more fl exible and energy conscious package.

Making it different is the exceptionally precise refl ector which magnifi es the light engine, and achieves a tighter beam due to its large surface area. The high power light engine ‘fi res’ into the refl ector, where maximum energy is collected and bounced out to form the beam. It is exceptionally tight and sharp - with no other optical devices to reduce or dilute the intense effi ciency. With each colour, only 10 Watts of energy is consumed even when at full.

18SAS OCTOBER 2011

COVER STORY

WINNERS

Martin Professional’s new MAC Aura luminaire, which provides new types of visual effects and is, in the judges’ words, “Eye Candy - nothing more, nothing less and we’ve never see it before”.

The Harman HiQnet Performance Manager - designed for live performance and tour sound, systematically takes sound engineers, regardless of experience, step by step through the process of setting up a sound system of any scale or complexity.

Martin Professional’s new MAC Aura luminaire, which provides new types of visualeffects and is, in the judges’ words “Eye Cand h

rofessional s new MAC Aura luminaire, which professiona

’and

The Harman HiQnet Performance Manager designed for live performance and tour sound systematically takes sound

Gottelier Award PLASA Awards for Innovation

Terry Clarke of amplifi er manufacturer MC2 was honoured with this year’s Gottelier

Award in recognition of his work on a host of standard-setting products at Klark Teknik,

Midas, XTA Electronics and MC2.

Martin Professional’s Peter Skytte.

Harman’s Paul Bauman, Brian Pickowitz and Adam Holladay.

GRINNERS...

BIG ORDER FROMSAUDI ARABIA FOR DISDanish Interpretation Systems (DIS) has received 4 confirmed orders from Saudi Arabia for a project called “KSAUHS - King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences” (more information athttp://www.ngha.med.sa/English/AboutNGHA/Pages/KSAUHS.aspx).

The Scandinavian conference manufacturing company, which is owned by SHURE will deliver a large amount of DCS 6000 equipment consisting of approx. 90 Control Units, more than 1.000pcs of DC 6120P Conference Units, IR Transmitters, Radiators and 700 pieces of DR 6008 Receivers (see photo attached). The Digital Conference Systems will be installed in 4 different locations all over Saudi Arabia (Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah, Hassa). The total value of the orders is above 1 Mio. U$ and DIS will provide all shipment before end of this calendar year.

Area Sales Manager Chris Hellmuth quotes “we’ve been working on this project for years now and are very happy that we could finally close this deal.”

Danish Interpretation Systems (DIS) will exhibit at InfoComm MEA 2011 in Hall 7, Stand 708 and present following new products:

CP 7851 Microphone & Camera Control Package which allows controlling cameras connected to our DIS Conference Systems through an Apple iPad

SW 7085 Streaming Publisher as a solution for online video & meetingsSW 6000 Conference Management Software v5.5 which features a completely new user interface DCS 6000 New improved features for voice activation (VOX)GM 592x New Gooseneck Microphone JB 6104 New Junction BoxCS 6140F New Channel Selector

20SAS OCTOBER 2011

COVER STORY

Chromlech’s Gleamer DMX-controlled low voltage dimmer offers nine channels of 6 to 28 volts each in a half-width 3U rackable box and, said the judges, “it provides new life for old Svobodas”.

Chromlech’s Gleamer DMX-controlled low voltage dimmer offers k bl

Chromlech’s Alex Gailly.Chromlech’s Alex Gailly.

Gerriet’s Hannes Gerriets.

The ELC Green-Go digital show communications

system brings affordable show communications into the digital realm,

incorporating features sets from premium systems in

a cost effective package that includes digital voice

communications, cue lights and text messages.

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Gerriets’ innovative G-Quick, designed as an alternative to attaching grommeted soft goods to pipe battens, re-thinks the traditional methods of hanging drapes, saving time and effort.

ELC Lighting’s Silvio Cibien and Joost Van Eenbergen.ELC Lighting’s Silvio Cibien and Joost Van Eenbergen.

22SAS OCTOBER 2011

COVER STORY

Total Solutions’ Video Tech Truss was the sixth PLASA Award for Innovation winner. Designed with safety as a priority, it provides a means for video technicians to safely service equipment in the air.

The fi nal PLASA Award for Innovation was given for a product which the judges felt to be worthy of Gold Award Status. The Shure Axient Wireless Manager is, the judges said, “a brilliant solution to automated RF management”. It also won Shure a Sustainability Commendation for the rechargeable Lithium Ion cells, thereby reducing landfi ll.

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The fi nal PLASA Award for Innovation was given for a product whichthe judges felt to b th fPLASA Award for InnovatLASA Award for Inno

Total Solutions’ Gary White and Chris Cronin.Total Solutions’ Gary White and Chris Cronin.

Share Distribution’s Tuomo Tolonen.

GDS achieved a notable double - winning an Award for Innovation and the special PLASA Sustainability Award for its ARCSystem of LED auditorium lighting fi xtures. The judges felt the system “will have a signifi cant impact on the carbon footprint of the buildings it is utilised in, and provides an elegant replacement house light system.”

GDS’ Matt Llloyd.

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Venuetech is a household name in the Dubai AV product market, but according to technical director Elie Khairallah, being a successful distributor is about more than just sales;

it’s about offering clients a consultative service.

You’d struggle to fi nd a fi rm with a bigger presence in the Middle East AV distribution market than Dubai-based Venuetech. With a history spanning seven

years, not only does it represent some of the most respected global manufacturers, but it has sold into some of the most high-profi le projects in the region. It’s an enviable position for any business to be in, but according to technical director Elie Khairallah, it’s not an easy one to attain.

“Sales is obviously a key element to our business, we always want to increase our market share as we are a distributor after all, but that has to be backed up with our technical knowledge,” he says. “We work very hard to make sure that we can back up what we say we can do – in this industry, it’s not just about selling a product and that’s it. It’s about offering technical consultation, after sales-service and a whole range of support services as well.”

Venuetech, which covers the whole gamut of the AV sector including pro-audio, public address, DJ and club, lighting, conference and interpretations systems, and automation segments; distributes to rental fi rms, system integrators, contractors and other organisations involved in the live event market - but is becoming increasingly more focussed on the burgeoning installation market.

“The rental companies are somewhat of an over-supplied market, so more and more, we’re focussing on products for the install

rather than necessarily the live market. The broadcast market is very big for us too,” explains Khairallah.

And this means concentrating on markets outside the UAE, the traditional commercial hub for distributors. “Now, the UAE market is quite saturated, so the big market for us in today’s climate is Qatar, Saudi and then UAE. Qatar and Saudi have defi nitely overtaken the UAE in terms of the number of projects and how big the projects are,” he says.

These projects – including major sporting stadiums, theatres and conference halls – require a level of consultation that goes beyond the role of just a ‘distributor’.

“We are distributors – we don’t go straight to any projects, we don’t work on them directly – but we always try to be as close as possible to the integrators and contractors to help and support them in their projects, so that they can provide the clients with the best solutions. Integrators, when working on a project, will have a certain design and certain specifi cations, so we try to provide the solution that’s cost-effective, value for money but also the right match for the project,” explains Khairallah.

“People appreciate the support they get from us when it comes to things like the design of a system, for example – that’s really one of our strong points and what makes us different to other distributors. We don’t just sell the products - when we sell our systems, we want to feel confi dent that it’s going to perform to the best of its ability and in the best possible environment, so we assist in

The consultant

Venuetech’s Elie Khairallah says ongoing education is key to ensuring high-quality AV installations in the region.

24SAS OCTOBER 2011

INTERVIEW

There have been a lot of improvements over the past two to three years, and that’s a positive sign – we just

need to keep that momentum going.

system set up and installation, in the fi nally commissioning and setting of the system so that we’re 100 per cent confi dent that it will perform to its optimum ability.”

The key to this, he says, is Venuetech’s staff. “We have a team of three sales

engineers, that support our four sales people, as well as a team of eight engineers who look after maintenance and that type of thing,” says Khairallah.

“The sales engineer must fi rst of all understand the project needs, be able to read the consultants design and be able to produce a system from one of the lines of product that we handle that provides a complete solution. They need to know from A to Z. We have some people handling audio, some handling video and some handling lighting – there are three separate segments.”

And fi nding these sales engineers is all part of the challenge. “They are even more diffi cult to recruit than technical engineers,” admits Khairallah.

“Finding people with the right knowledge, the understanding of sales and the technical side of things is very diffi cult. We often try to bring in people from other markets and train them up on this side of things. That’s why I think you see quite a few former Venuetech employees now with their own businesses!” he says with a laugh.

He uses a recent project as an example of the importance of the consultation that Venuetech’s team can provide. “At the moment we are working on an extremely large project outside the UAE that we started in July when we took their initial design and converted it into a more simple, more powerful and very modern system.

When it comes to large projects that have their own design – either you comply to these specifi cations or you try to improve them. And we would always be inclined to offer suggestions on how to improve them, for the client’s sake as well as our and our manufacturers’ reputations.”

This, he says, is the reason Venuetech has what he estimates to be a 35 to 40 per cent market share.

“In some products however, it could be as high as 50 and perhaps is a bit lower in other products, but overall, 35 to 40 per cent share is a fair estimate,” says Khairallah.

He admits though, that some fi rms in the region looking to purchase equipment still look to do so internationally rather than locally, a reality that he struggles to explain.

“Some companies over here will try and source new products overseas but really,

Venuetech’s showroom in Deira gives clients the opportunity to interact with products before placing an order.

25OCTOBER 2011 SAS


they lose the warranty and the service and support that goes hand in hand with purchases made with Venuetech, for example,” he says. “We see this quite often, that fi rms try to look internationally for products because perhaps they think it’s cheaper to do so, when in fact that’s not really the case at all. Our prices are quite competitive. I recall one project recently for instance, where the client purchased all the equipment from the UK, and when it came to do the installation, they had diffi culties with the commissioning of it, so they called us for support. So perhaps they should have just purchased from us in the fi rst place!

“It’s not necessary to look internationally – we have all the leading and recently released gear – we are here, based locally for service and support. Our aim always is to look for the newest thing – our strategy as a company is to be a leader, to educate clients on the latest products and technologies and to always be fresh and to keep up to date with the market as a whole.”

Khairallah concedes that while Venuetech may be making inroads to providing the technical expertise and service on par with other global markets, there is still a long way to go for the Middle East as a whole to reach the same standards.

“Unfortunately, some people still compare this market to Europe when in fact, the European market is completely different, its mature, while here, it’s still developing, it still needs a lot of education and care to get even close to these other markets. In Europe, it’s much more stable distribution-wise and is more educated,” he explains.

“It’s about time. And education. The market here needs a lot of knowledge – the knowledge is just not there yet. One of our aims is the address this and this is why, every year, we conduct four to fi ve major seminars, to address the lack of knowledge in the region. As well as this, we always try to have a presence at exhibitions such as PALME and now, InfoComm.”

And he says the development needed is not just confi ned to one segment of the AV market. “Both lighting and acoustics are areas that still need to be developed in the region. Certainly audio is more complex, and

throws up more challenges in general. The whole AV market in general needs its quality levels raised and this is why we are seeing more and more manufacturers come out to the region on their own accord and set up offi ces out here I think. There have been a lot of improvements over the past two to three years, and that’s a positive sign – we just need to keep that momentum going.”

Khairallah stands by the level of technology being produced by Venuetechs manufacturing partners, but admits that new products in today’s market are more about refi ning existing innovations, rather than completely new ones.

“When you’ve witnessed major revolutions like LED in the past, it’s hard to be as impressed with the changes and developments in technology we’re seeing right now. We haven’t had any huge, major innovations in recent years really, but I would say that the new line from Sennheiser, the Evolution G3 is becoming more and more popular and is being requested more and more. It has a lot of features – it’s a very high-quality and it’s priced very competitively too, compared to other similar products out there. From Electro-Voice too, their MI market and install market products are really streets ahead of competitors too,” he says.

According to Khairallah, Sennheiser’s Evolution G3 line and Electro-Voice’s latest range target towards the MI sector are some of the most innovative products currently on the market.

26SAS OCTOBER 2011

INTERVIEW

The heart of your high end wireless transmission: the EM 3732-II true diversity receiver shows its strengths in complex live environments; events such as, live broadcasts, theatre, live music production or major sporting events. And now the EM 3732-II can be used in combination with any of Sennheiser’s existing ranges of hand-held and body pack transmitters, ensuring maximum wireless flexibility Team up the rugged but light SK 5212-II body pack transmitter with the MKE 1, Sennheiser’s smallest clip on microphone. The MKE 1 features a robust sweat resistant Kevlar cable and delivers great performance from a package that is virtually invisible, but refuses to compromise on great sound. For handheld applications combine the EM 3732-II with the new SKM 5200-II. With 184 MHz of tuning range and a wide range of Sennheiser and Neumann microphone capsules to choose from, its easy to see why Sennheiser 3000 and 5000 Series systems are the number one choice of wireless professionals – World-wide.

THE KEY TOPERFECTION

Distributed in the UAE by:Venuetech LLC, Showroom 1&2, Sheikh Zayed Bin Saqeer Al Nihayan Building Salahuddin Rd, Dubai.Tel: +971 4268 8266 eMail: [email protected]

Distributed in the Middle East by:Sennheiser Middle East

Office 550, Building 5E/B, Dubai Airport Free Zone, Dubai, U.A.E PO Box 371004

Tel: +971 4299 4004 eMail: [email protected]

28SAS OCTOBER 2011

CASE STUDY

The Makkah Awards for Excellence recognise business men and women who have played an important role in the Kingdom’s social responsibility.

Winners, including scholars and economists from Makkah Province, received a certifi cate of appreciation from Makkah’s Governor, Prince Khaled Al-Faisal. It was during the ceremony for the presentation of these accolades that MILOS trussing and staging products from Bright Star were used to build a spectacular stage set for the event, including a 50 metre diameter circular truss that circled the perimeter of the entire presentation space, which was also used to hang a 360 degree projection screen and an

CIRCULAR AMBITIONS

18 metre diameter round stage.The installation - the company’s largest

ever project in the region.- was designed by Hattan Madani, who was also Bright Star’s site and project manager for the event. Bright Star is a leading technical and event production company based in Jeddah, headed by Ibrahim Madani, and with a large stock of MILOS products.

The 18 metre diameter circular stage for the event was extended on two sides, making it a total of 29 metres in length and 15 metres deep, with seating in front extending to almost 270 degrees around the space. The whole presentation area was surrounded by the 50 metre circular truss, which was supported by 12 ground

supported towers. The projection screen was attached to this and the truss trimmed at 8.5 metres high - the highest possible position with the ceiling height of the room.

MILOS QuickTruss M390L product was used to construct the circle. This is a large format product line, with the “L” denoting the heavy duty version. It is extremely robust, so ideal for large spans, and quick to erect using conical connectors, pins and R-clips, offering substantial weight loading capabilities coupled with great aesthetics.

The towers were from MILOS’ MT2 range, which is designed for larger events and demanding high-end applications requiring the maximum loading and free-span characteristics. The standard MT2

The largest MILOS trussing installation in the Middle East to date was custom-built for the 2011 Makkah Awards for Excellence in Saudi Arabia. S&S takes a look at the details...

29OCTOBER 2011 SAS

www.digitalproductionme.comwww.digitalproductionme.com

Towers are built from MILOS’ QuickTruss M520 and can be extended to a maximum height of 12 metres. The system is renowned for its stability. The circular truss was joined to the MT2 towers via sleeve blocks with custom adaptor plates.

The stage was built from a combination of standard MILOS XStages S8W products and a selection of bespoke components specially fabricated to form the rounded elements specifi ed by the client. This is also very quick to assemble. The stage decks have fi ne-tuned adjustable legs to ensure perfect levelling.

MILOS xStages S8 is an extremely versatile heavy-duty platform system that enables the construction of large stages in most imaginable shapes and confi gurations.

The site build took Bright Star’s team of riggers plus local crew four days to complete, project managed by Hattan Madani.

The company also has its own reputation for excellence, and won the contract to supply the event due to its ability to deliver the complete project including all the other technical elements - lighting,

sound, AV and the projection screen - in a highly competitive package.

Bright Star has invested in MILOS in recent years for the brand’s innate reliability and the breadth and dynamics of the product range, as well as for the company’s ability to design and deliver any custom pieces required for a specifi c project quickly and effi ciently.

SAS OCTOBER 2011

GUEST COLUMN

I had a job coming up and I thought this would be the perfect time to try the two MKH microphones out. The job was a TV commercial. We would shoot on the beach and in Jumeirah

Beach Park.For my set up, I decided I would use

a PSC Alphamix Mixer, a Sound Devices 744T HDD Recorder, Lectrosonics for wireless applications and for Boom Poles it would be PSC.

We shot on August 10 and let me tell you straight away, I was concerned about the humidity affecting the microphones. Normally I wouldn’t be worried about an RF condenser fi ghting humidity (even the 70 per cent we had that morning right next the water) but in this case, both the MKH 8060 and 8070 are modular microphones and I was nervous to have humidity going through the slightest open space between the capsule and preamps. But do you know what? It was just fi ne. Not a single problem.

Now that I was reassured regarding our weather forecast for that morning, I could concentrate on what those two beasts had to offer.

The fi rst sequence we shot was on the beach. The conditions were good for me to try the MKH 8060. So For each shot did a few rehearsals. I started to rehearse with my regular MKH 416 (a classic Super Cardioid/Lobar pick up pattern with a sensitivity measured at 25mV/Pa) and then switched to the MKH 8060 for an on the spot comparison.

MKH 8060 SENSITIVITY:The 8060 has a sensitivity measured at 63mV/Pa! That is two and a half times more sensitive then the 416! I was blown away. Every time I would use the 416 and then plug the 8060 back on, I had to bring my mixer preamp level down a fair bit to not overload the signal. I could even lift up the boom for wider shots and still have enough

signal because this mic is that sensitive!

INTELLIGIBILITY:To be honest, when I started to test the MKH 8060, I thought that it was the equivalent of a 416 but much more sensitive. Then when I started to pay more attention to what I would hear, I realised that not only there was an improvement

GUEST COLUMN

MKH 8060

30

Dubai-based sound recordist David Thiron recently got his hands on the new Sennheiser MKH8000 series and the new MKE1 Lapel and gives us his verdict on the gear.

31OCTOBER 2011 SAS


you start adding the modules then it begins to add up. With the analogue module, the mic weights 112gm, then if you want to add the fi lter module it is also an extra weight. Especially if you repeat the operation with the digital module, which is 65gm and 96mm long compare to 32gm and 30mm long for the analogue one.

Another concern I have would be the price. From what I heard from Sennheiser Middle East, the retail price on the MKH8060 would be approximatively $1400.00. For that price you have the microphone capsule, the MZX8000 Analogue module, the foam windshield, the clip and a carry tube. Now they haven’t given me an exact fi gure yet, but for the MZF8000 fi lter module itself, it would be around $400.00 and I haven’t got the price for the digital module so it could become a fairly expensive microphone when you also add all the other accessories. But at the end of the day, as a sound recordist by profession, I feel you would be investing in quality and in the knowledge of the potential of this great tool when fully accessorised.

THE MKH 8070The 8070 is a a type of microphone I don’t use much in my fi eld. Nevertheless, I still tested it out for the same TV commercial shoot and it was actually

quite helpful in some situations.

SENSITIVITYIt has a great sensitivity measured at 112mV/Pa, you have to hold on to your sox when using it! It would be best used in situations where you don’t want to run around with it at the end of a boom pole. It is sensitive enough to be placed at the corners and sides of football fi elds and could still pick up enough signal to create a good broadcast sound mix that would be rich in the small but important details of what is happening on the fi eld. It could also be used on feature fi lms as, on wider shots, it is sensitive enough to still pick up good intelligible dialogues.

INTELLIGIBILITYOnce again, an amazing improvement from Sennheiser. It sounds rich, clean, well balanced and no colorations even with such an off-axis sound attenuation.

DIRECTIVITYSo for the next set up after the one on the beach, we went into Jumeirah Beach Park and were shooting quite close to the road, which at that time in the morning, was busy enough with buses, delivery trucks and cars to create a serious issue for me in the sound department. So I decided

g p

t t ddi th d l th it b i it h l f l i it ti

on the sensitivity of the microphone itself but there was also a huge improvement on the intelligibility of the mic. (by this I mean the way it reproduces the sound we are trying to capture). I could really make out a clear difference between the low, medium and high frequencies. There was a much better presence without making it sound unnatural. It is just a very well built microphone, pure and simple.

DIRECTIVITY:The 8060 and the 416 are both Super Cardioid/Lobar pick up pattern microphone. But the beauty here is that the MKH 8060 is shorter then the 416, in fact it is 75mm shorter (with the analogue module) and still has a greater attenuation of off axis sound without colorations. I could really hear an improvement, the volume is just much lower on the side then the sound source in front of the mic. And remember because this mic is so sensitive, when used on a wider shot, you do not have that fear of losing your subject due to a too tight directional microphone.

As you can read, it seems that the MKH 8060 is performing pretty well so far. It’s an improvement on sensitivity, intelligibility, directivity and what else?

Well what about the fact that it can become a digital microphone? Yes, the MKH 8060 is a modular microphone (you can change the module by unscrewing it from the mic capsule itself and then exchange it for another one). In this case, you can replace the analogue module or preamp (MZX8000) to a digital one (MZD8000) that provides AES42 format. You can also add a fi lter unit (MZF8000) that would provide a low cut as well as a -10dB switch PAD that could be very useful in some situations.

WHAT ABOUT THE CONS?Indeed there are some characteristics to consider when buying a microphone. With regards to the MKH 8060, one of my concerns would be the weight. The microphone capsule itself is 80gm; when

Thirion says the MKH 8060 fared extremely well in Dubai’s excessive humidity.

33OCTOBER 2011 SAS


to use the 8070 to see if I could reject as much unwanted sound as possible and fair enough, we managed to record most of what we had to shoot. Some shots are probably going to be worked on in post production but a minimum amount.

BUT HOW DOES IT WORK? Well, you need to know that this mic is working on the principle of signifi cantly reducing the side axis by using an interference tube. What does that mean? Sound is composed of different frequencies, you have frequencies from a lower end to a higher end; low frequencies will have a longer wave length and higher frequencies will have shorter wave length. So when the sound has a wave length longer the tube itself, it’ll be picked up normally by the capsule. And when the sound has a wave length shorter then the tube itself, because of the a design of this tube, it’ll reject and interfere with that sound hitting the side of the mic. Therefore the sound is still picked up but with a reduced level. And so the longer your tube is, the greater the side rejection will be as it’ll reject longer wave length then the 8060, for instance.

So, just by placing the mic at a specifi c angle to the road and to the subject you can cancel out most of the aforementioned unwanted sound.

As well as the MKH 8060, the MKH 8070 is also a modular microphone, so all the same modules you would used on the 8060 could be placed on the 8070.

As with the 8070, there are also some points to consider before you purchase this mic. For me the fi rst two points would be from a purely practical point of view, the weight and the size of the mic. It is, once in its basket and at the end of a quite well extended boom pole, a very heavy tool to manipulate. Especially when you shoot in the month of August in Dubai! 300gm for the mic itself at 432mm long makes it something you have to consider.

THE MKE1My third and last test was the MKE1

Lapel microphone. Now testing Lapels

is always tricky, because I am used to a certain mic I have had for years., and I am surely not the only sound recordist who feels that way. Still, I was intrigued to test this lavalier for two reasons:

One - Sennheiser agreed to reintroduce the MKE1 due to a high demand from the Audio Operator Community. And two - It could be a very strong ally to the Sanken COS 11 because of its size.

I tested this mic on a documentary. Sure enough, the result was superb. I found the same quality I fi nd in my Sanken: warm, rich, velvety, excellent frequency response and a high speech intelligibility. And the beauty of it is that the mic itself is smaller then my COS 11 but it still has a very high sound pressure level of 142dB! Not bad for a 3.3mm capsule!

It also has a new membrane design that makes it extremely sweat resistant; its special gauze and multi-purpose cap also offer additional protection from moisture. The 1mm thin cable is reinforced with Kevlar which makes the cable much stronger and durable. Colourwise, you can order the mic in black, white, brown, beige and light beige.

So to conclude, Sennheiser once again came out strong with three beautiful new tools for the sound recording industry. These new microphones are well thought through and well designed but they do come at a certain price. It could, for some, be a heavy investment.

However, if you think about it, once you’d tried them you would probably see the potential of the new era of digital applications. You need to ask yourself the question: are you willing to go that step further? Or do you just want to stay on the analogue side of the industry? Sooner or later, you’ll have to be ready to surf the digital wave and that is where I believe Sennheiser has been really clever by introducing the new MKH 8000 series, crossover modular products that allow you to move into the digital world. This new series could be ideal for those with restricted budgets who would choose to expand their accessory box bit by bit.

35SAS OCTOBER 2011

ADVERTORIAL


CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY

This month sees the 25th Anniversary of Creative Technology’s (CT) formation in the UK. In that time CT has become the world’s leading specialist provider of AV services to the event industry, employing around 500 staff and with offi ces throughout Europe, the USA, Asia Pacifi c and the Middle East.

CT’s presence in the GCC region has developed steadily since the company fi rst started servicing Golf, Motor Sport and cultural events around 10 years ago, on an arm’s length basis from its UK base. In 2006 CT established a permanent presence in Dubai, appointing Damien McGurn as General Manager of CT Dubai along with Mark Woodhouse, who transferred from the UK, as Operations Manager. The business has grown steadily concentrating on CT’s core values of providing the highest quality of equipment, technical crew and service to production companies and event organisers from both within the region and world-wide.

October 2011 sees the launch of CT’s latest development in the region, CT Doha. In response to a growing demand for services in the rapidly developing state of Qatar, CT has formed a local LLC business. London based Project Manager Andy Reardon will be moving to Doha on a permanent basis as General Manager, the Middle East operation will be further strengthened by the appointment of Sid Lobb as Senior Project Manager. Sid will be Doha based but involved in projects across the region. The best people have always been at the heart of CT’s off ering, the core team based locally are supported by some of the most experienced names in the business who are regularly seconded to the region on a project or seasonal basis.

Large Screen Display remains at the centre of almost everything CT does, with arguably the largest stock of outdoor LED display hardware in the region along with a growing range of indoor technology including both projection and indoor LED, CT is able to off er the broadest range of display solutions. Recently introduced 4 and 6mm indoor LED products and 200m2 of a new 20mm mesh screen system (which will be fi rst used at the forthcoming GITEX exhibition) are positioned alongside the established inventory of Christie and Panasonic projectors and Lighthouse R7 LED screens. The best displays however, are only as good as the hardware and content that drives them. In 2011 the products based in the Middle East Region will be expanded to include additional Spyder and Watchout playback/control systems along with two new fully HD production systems, the fi rst in the region specifi cally tailored to the events market.

Dave Crump CEO of CT in Europe and the Middle East comments “The GCC region has developed into one of our most important markets both operationally and strategically. From relatively humbled beginnings supplying LED screens to individual events we have built a strong and well-respected business in the region. Our clients include many of the top production companies both here and from around the world. We are very proud to have been involved in most of the major spectaculars held over the past fi ve years and look forward to another season of ground-breaking events in the UAE, Doha and further afi eld over the coming months. Our businesses in the UAE and Doha are not only signifi cant in their own right but are also major customers of our UK and European operations and allow us to provide a unique and invaluable service to our expanding customer base of production agencies operating on a global stage.”

Media [email protected] Technology Unit 5, Bldg. 11Dubai Investment ParkJebel AliDubaiU.A.E.P.O. Box 282572

Tel: +971 (4) 885 6020Fax: +971 (4) 885 [email protected]

© 2011 Creative Technology LtdCompany No. 2039109

Contact details:Damien McGurn Andy ReardonCreative Technology Dubai Creative Technology [email protected] [email protected]

Dubai UK USA Germany China Singapore Holland Doha

36SAS OCTOBER 2011

PICTURE SPECIAL

The second instalment of the Event’s Industry Night Out was held at the Red Lounge in the Raffl es Hotel, Dubai last month in consultation with the global

Peace One Day initiative - and S&S was there to capture all the action.

OUT AND ABOUT

Danielle May and Moustafa Hamwi.

Hani Kleib and David Neeley.

Barry Anderson, Yamini Bhat, Nicola Hoey and Darren Woodhouse.

Chris and Judith Chackal. Fiona Robertson and Mark Hill.

37OCTOBER 2011 SAS


Daniel Soliman, Sandrine, Christine Atallah and Thomas Richardson.

Laura-Jayne Culimore, Natalie Ratard, Rebecca Cross and Anna Castles.

Tom Rhodes and Maliha Kamal.

John Dugean and Santosh Sarma.

Nikhil Hariharan and Leonora Pacini.

38SAS OCTOBER 2011

PICTURE SPECIAL

SL4PAD-One

Deny Prosper, Natasha Dayap and Yoann Coulon.

Dana Haubold, Tania Taylor, Corrina Erkin and friend.Carine Caspers, Kellie Slater and Cathy Atyeh.

Chris Tomlinson, Jemma Joy, Corinna Erken and Paul Tomlinson.

39OCTOBER 2011 SAS


Middle East chapter of the ISES launchesAfter 18 months of deliberations, the International Special Events Society (ISES) now has an offi cially incorporated and recognised local chapter; it was announced at the Event’s Industry Night Out. The fi rst international society for the events industry in the Middle East, ISES is a global organisation of special events professionals who are dedicated and educated to deliver creative excellence and professionalism in special events.

Over 7,000 members in over 38 countries and 49 chapters are made up

of special event planners, producers and designers (from festivals, corporate and community events to exhibitions and trade shows), convention and party planners, educators, journalists, hotel sales managers, convention centre managers, caterers, tent suppliers, audio-visual technicians and suppliers, rental companies, specialty entertainers and agencies, artists, photographers, special effects experts, travel and transport operators and more.

Founded in 1987, ISES works to join professionals to focus on the “event as a whole” rather than its individual parts.

Affi liation with local chapters provides education and ideas exchanges. ISES provides an opportunity for members to stay on top of global industry trends through educational programs, annual conference ISES Eventworld and ISES-sponsored classes. ISES also offers accreditation through the Certifi ed Special Events Professional (CSEP) programme.

The society will be governed locally by a representative committee comprised of 10 directors. An election to determine these positions will take place once at least 30 members have signed up.

ADVERTORIALwww.digitalproductionme.com

40SAS OCTOBER 2011

You can ask any event company based in the UAE how their event calendar is looking for the coming season and the response is the same across the board – Hectic!Due to the busy projects and events season last year, Byrne’s Projects & Events Division would encourage all event planners to start thinking ahead about the equipment they might require for an upcoming event this season. Byrne have already been busy helping many businesses plan ahead and reserve the necessary equipment they require going forward into the next event season.The growth of the leisure, sport and tourism industries in the region has developed a need for very individual and tailor-made services in order to make each event more extravagant and memorable than the last. By meeting this need, the Projects & Events Division of the company has grown to become a key part of the overall business, and is continuing to expand its products and services. The customers of this division cover a range of regional sporting and entertainment events year after year. These include anything from golf tournaments to horse racing, tennis and motorsport events. Not to mention the growing number of international concert acts, local cultural festivals, and exhibitions.Byrne’s Projects & Events Division has developed tailor made solutions for a range of event and project requirements through experience and

BYRNE LOOKS FORWARD...

For additional information about Byrne please contact your local Byrne offi ce:

Dubai: +971 4 4544800Abu Dhabi: +971 2 6140100Qatar: +974 44602320Oman: +968 24544682KSA: +966 33404888

customer feedback. Byrne have introduced the new ‘plug-and-play’ distribution board systems to their expanding fleet. The onset of plug-and-play systems for power supply and distribution at temporary sites has seen an increase in efficiency and safety – and consequently, decrease in costs and setup times. This product will complement our synchronised generators that allow for fail safe and uninterrupted power supply, ideal for concert events among others. We have the most varied cabin and ablution fleet in the GCC with custom made green room cabins, site offices, catering cabins and concessions booths. Ablution units have been developed with all male and all female facilities to cope with high turnover events, reducing queues and improving customer satisfaction. Our VIP ablutions range from high end cabin units, ideal for dignitaries and artists to our new range of Flexi Loo vacuum units, both in a flat packed and a trailerized setup, well suited for VIP and corporate events as well as film productions.With the addition of grand stand seating, mesh & picket fencing and much more we pride ourselves on being known as the one stop equipment rental solution for events within the GCC, and with our around the clock response teams we strive to provide the best service available to compliment the largest fleet of equipment in the Middle East.

41SAS OCTOBER 2011

wwww.digitalproductionme.com

RANE – MP26The MP26 mixer from Rane is based on the 19-inch rack format favoured by nightclubs, with a recessed-jack 5U design that drops easily into a mobile rig. Sporting two microphone inputs, four studio-grade phono preamps, four analogue aux inputs, four low-la-tency stereo USB inputs, analogue and USB effects insert loops, a powerful internal effects engine featuring Filter, Flanger, Phaser, Echo, Robot, and Re-verb effects, and a variety of analogue and digital outputs; the MP26 remains rooted in analogue tradition while reaching new heights of digital con-nectivity and performance.

The MP26 also features Rane’s patented, no-bleed, no-noise, no-wear, magnetic crossfader and, in-tegrating a twenty-two channel USB audio interface, enables simultaneous playback of four stereo sources, re-cording fi ve stereo channels, and in-serting computer-based effects.

Reliable, low-latency, multi-client

BUYER’S GUIDE: DJ TECHThis month, Sound & Stage mixes it up and looks at some of the best new prod-ucts in the world of DJ-ing.

ASIO and Core Audio drivers interface the MP26’s twenty-two USB audio chan-nels directly to your favourite multi-track mixing, beat-making, looping, effects, and recording applications. Additionally, the MP26’s front panel controls are MIDI enabled, allowing manipulation of soft-ware parameters directly from the mix-er’s control surface.

The MP26 also features Rane’s pow-erful FlexFX architecture, allowing DJs to apply a variety of effects to any com-bination of mic and program inputs. In-sert effects into individual channels, a sub-mix of channels, or the entire main mix. Combine outboard effects proces-

sors with VST effects running on your computer and the MP26’s internal ef-fects processor. FlexFX makes it easy to create unique, compelling mixes in a variety of mixing styles.

Two microphone inputs put the DJ and other entertainers in direct con-tact with the audience. Each micro-phone includes independent Talkover control . Engage a mic to put it into the mix, or engage Talkover to put the mic in the mix and duck all other sources. Talkover makes it easy to jump into the mix for quick, intelligi-ble announcements.

SAS OCTOBER 201

PIONEER – DJM-250Just released by Pioneer is the DJM-250, which it says is the industry’s fi rst sub-£500 (US$780) mixer to boast two sound colour fi lters and a range of pro-fessional features.

A favourite among professional and hobby DJs alike, quality fi lters are usually confi ned to high-end mixers. But now with the Pioneer DJM-250 two-channel mixer, DJs can combine EQ effects with not one, but two fi lters to perform mixes that sound like they were meant to be.

The DJM-250 is loaded with eight in-puts to connect with an array of sources,

including a mic input for MCing. The mixer mirrors the layout of its bigger brothers to deliver the professional experience, plus the XLR balanced output guarantees the high quality sound usually confi ned to Pio-neer’s club standard mixers.

Borrowed straight from Pioneer’s high-end DJM-900 Nexus, the two sound colour fi lters can be added inde-pendently to each channel for seamless marrying of tracks. Combine that with the EQ effects to really carve out the mix. Lights on the fi lter knobs clearly show when each fi l-ter is engaged, to provide a

unique visual aid to DJs for perfect performance every time.

THE BEST OF BOTH DIGITAL

AND ANALOGUE

BANG FOR BUCK

BUYER’S GUIDE

42SAS OCTOBER 2011

AVID – TORQ 2.0 The latest version of Avid Torq DJ software takes users beyond beat matching and into the future of DJ performance and real-time production. All four decks can be uti-lised to create unique, complex, and dynamic mixes and unique sounds can be developed us-ing high-quality, innovative effects and a powerful built-in sampler.

Go beyond crossfading by transi-tioning between tracks in using the new Traq Morph feature, which al-lows transitions that would other-wise be impossible - short of having six hands and a rack of studio gear.

Select between four fl avours - Cut, Fil-ter, Duck, and Morph - and Torq in-telligently applies effects as you fade between songs. For instance, use Fil-ter mode to cut the bass out of Track A while introducing the bass of Track B as you move the crossfader, creating seamless transitions.

ReWire support and an 18-cell sam-pler let you bring powerful studio pro-

cessing to your live sets, as well as infuse your studio produc-tions with live energy. Torq 2.0 even comes with 100 MB of free, ready-made loops to get you started.

For those who prefer the feel of traditional gear, Torq

2.0 is compatible with the M-Audio Xponent control surface

and also supports vinyl and CD control out of the box. The soft-ware is able to be integrated with turntables, CD decks, and a variety of popular DJ controllers—or be run on its own.

Already own a Numark NS7, Vestax VCI-300, or DJ controller? Adding Torq 2.0 software to the mix opens extends current creative possibilities.

STANTON - CONTROL SYSTEM 4DJ Newly released by Stanton is its Control System 4DJ (SCS.4DJ) – a fully integrated digital DJ mixstation. Immediately upon seeing it in action, it is very apparent something is missing: the laptop! Taking a fresh design approach - the SCS.4DJ was designed with an internal processor that makes fully standalone operation a reality. All users have to do is add their own music and they’ll be ready to go.

“With the SCS.4DJ, we developed one integrated product that contains all three of the key components you need to DJ - software, computer and controller - all in one system for an unprecedented user experience,” says Timothy Dorwart, CEO of the Stanton Group. “Plus, it is fully equipped with advanced features and functionality. For those new to DJing, this means a short learning curve while working pros will recognise that it has all the capabilities they need in a single solution, maximising portability and

reliability. The SCS.4DJ’s ability to pull from hard drives, media devices and smartphones also allow users to utilise the music fi les they already have where they already reside.”

Since all the software for the SCS.4DJ is embedded into the system, no additional communication cables or computers are required. Simply connect a memory device with stored music, analyse the tracks and it is ready to mix. At the push of a button, the SCS.4DJ’s automatic synchronisation

feature keeps tracks in beat so that you can focus on being more creative with your music. With capabilities rivaling traditional DJ software solutions -- for the fi rst time a fully capable and portable alternative is available. The advanced tempo and beat grid calculation also allows the SCS.4DJ to be placed into “Auto-DJ” mode, where the unit will automatically mix the music in the user’s playlist based on their chosen style of mixing.

astio2o

f2.0

HERALDS A

NEW ERA IN

FADING

J’s ability to pull fe

FULLY- INTEGRATED DIGITAL MIXER

BUYER’S GUIDE

44SAS OCTOBER 2011

VESTAX – PAD-ONE The Vestax PAD-One is a solid robust MIDI pad controller, compatible with various DJ and DAW software and can be used to control any kind of MIDI device, including synthesisers, samplers, drum machines, and electronic drums.

The PAD-One can individually assign pads on the fly, and shows users each pads MIDI value on the seven-seg indicator.

STANTON – M-AUDIO – GSR18

It includes 12 velocity and pressure sensitive LED

backlit pads, individual LED colours for each bank, real-time control, full control of ROLL button tempo with the TAP button and MIDI cable connection for control over various effect and sampler devices.

Developed by the same engineering team behind M-Audio’s popular reference monitors, the GSR18 active subwoofer adds serious low end to any full-range satellite speaker system. The 18-inch low-frequency driver and ultra-effi cient Class D amplifi er produce 500 watts of power and the variable crossover lets you dial in balance between the subwoofer and your full-range speakers for fl at frequency response, while the phase invert button ensures full, focused bass—regardless of stage position.

ALLEN & HEATH – XDB4 Newly unveiled from Allen & Heath, the Xone:DB4, is a fully digital, high performance DJ mixer with a Quad FX Core DSP engine, providing four FX BPM Loop record engines with channel EQ fi lters. Other key features include multi-channel USB audio with MIDI, analogue and digital I/O, input source matrix, easy to read OLED display screen, and USB for recalling user set ups.

The Quad FX Core DSP engine allows each channel to have its own FX bank and BPM detection system, which automatically adjusts all time-related FX and loops to the tempo of the music. There are fi ve basic studio quality FX types optimised for DJ use, comprising delays, reverbs, modulators,

resonators and damage, plus each FX type has a patch library of different effect variations that can be assigned to the relevant control. Each FX bank has a dedicated expression control and a rotary pot to set the wet/dry level, whilst further effect tweaking can be performed using the global controllers in the FX master section.

In addition to the FX, each channel has a built-in looper, with selectable loop length from 1/64 beat to 4 bars using the rotary encoder. No matter what loop length is selected, the Xone:DB4 will always record the maximum of 4 bars, so the loop can be expanded or shrunk at will. With an intuitive layout similar to the industry standard Xone:92, there are also two fi lter banks on either side of the main mix channels.

The OLED display is clearly visible even in bright sunlight, and displays

each channel FX selection and current BPM, as well as being an easy and

intuitive interface for the Menu set up functions. The mixer offers many user defi ned settings, such as meter mode, BPM range, USB audio routing scheme, display brightness, in addition to the extensive built-in FX library, and these settings can be saved to a USB key for recall on another unit, such as

in a fi xed club installation.There is a built-in, multi-channel

USB2 soundcard allowing replay and recording from computer-based audio software for 4 stereo sends and 4 stereo returns. All controls (except Mic and Phones level) send MIDI data but the mixer can double up as a MIDI controller via the MIDI shift button, which allows the Loop and FX selection controls to send MIDI data without changing the mixer settings.

t

on

tbkean

IDEAL FOR OUTDOOR, DAYTIME USE THANKS TO AN OLED DISPLAY

It includes 12and pressure sensitive

ULTRA-PORTABLE

BUYER’S GUIDE

SMITHSONMARTIN - EMULATORSmithsonMartin specialises in multi-touch applications and its fl agship product, the Emulator, which is the world’s fi rst multi-touch DJ software, has captured the interest of the DJ world since a YouTube clip of it in action went viral last year.

The latest version, Emulator FT 1.5 now supports Native Instruments, Traktor 2 Professional DJ Software.

TECHNICS - SL-1200MK5The original - and some would say the best - Technics’ SL-1200MK5 is part of a series produced by the brand since 1972. So popular, they’re often referred to by one of a number of monikers: “1200s”, “Tee 12’s”, “Technics”, “Tec 12’s”, “wheels of steel” and “the one and two’s”, for instance.

Released in 2002, SL-1200MK5 the has a silver fi nish like the MK2 and increases the range of anti-skate settings from 0-3 grams-force (0-30 mN) to 0-6 grams-force (0-60 mN). Although not much different than the SL-1200 M3D, the MK5 does have some noticeable ‘improvements’. Like the M3D, the SL-1200

BUYER’S GUIDE

SMITHSONMARTIN“We are extremely excited to

announce the following exclusive distributors for our products around the world,” said company co-founder and CEO, Alan Smithson.

With the introduction of Emulator FT 1.5 for Traktor 2, DJ’s now have sample decks, loop recorders and more amazing effects literally at their fingertips. “Emulator gives the DJ all the functionality of Traktor 2

MK5 has a recessed power knob and a pitch reset button. However, the Technics SL-1200 MK5 turntable sports a white LED popup light. This replaces the original

with a full multi-touch experience,” said Pablo Martin, company co-founder and CTO. “We tried to make Emulator more intuitive and easy to use so DJ’s can begin playing on a touch screen interface immediately. Whether they use a tablet PC, touch screen monitor or our holographic looking transparent touch surface, the DJ is now in total control.”

Emulator made world-wide headlines when the fi rst YouTube video got over 1.5 Million views. “Everyone knows Emulator as the huge transparent touch screen, but really the software gives users the ability to use any touch screen controller they want. We have customers using Tablet PC’s, Touch Screen Monitors and some are experimenting with large-format projection systems. The possibilities are endless,” said Smithson.

46SAS OCTOBER 2011

HEAD-TURNER

MK5 has a recessed

incandescent bulb which often burned out. Other features include: simple to set breaking speed - after removing the slip mat, all it takes is a few twists of a screwdriver to go from a slow winding down to an instant halt, or anywhere in between; and smooth sliding, quartz locked, non “click” continuous pitch

adjustment +/-8 per cent and +/-16 per cent. Like all products in the Technics range,

this version is built to last, with DJ’s often remarking that it’s still going strong after years of use.

OLD SCHOOL

AN AMAZING SHOWS STARTS WITH...AMAZING STAGE FABRICS IN MOTION

SHOWTEX IS THE PROFESSIONAL'S CHOICEfor expert production services and a huge stock of fl ame retardant

stage and decorative fabrics, precision curtain movement and drop

systems, extra wide panoramic front and rear projection screens,

large format printed fabrics, ShowLED starcloth, Blue key, Chroma key

and custom made innovations for your next show or special event.

THE GUIDE

48SAS OCTOBER 2011

GUIDETHE

This month’s hottest new product releases from Blackmagic, Litepanels, Martin Professional and more...

frame packed and dual stream capture and playback. Dual stream 3D allows customers to use the UltraStudio 3D dual link SDI connections to capture and play back two streams, one for the left eye and one for the right eye. The two streams are recorded into two separate media fi les. Dual stream 3D is higher quality because each eye is full resolution video, but dual stream is less compatible with

Blackmagic Design has unveiled what it says is the world’s fi rst video product with Thunderbolt technology. UltraStudio 3D allows portable capture and playback with full resolution dual stream 3D support, 10 bit hardware architecture, dual link 3 Gb/s SDI, support for up to 1080p60 in SDI and component analogue and HDMI 1.4a connections, as well as full SD, HD and 2K support.

The “compact and portable” solution uses the new Thunderbolt interface for dual link 3 Gb/s SDI, HDMI 1.4a and analogue component/s-video/composite, as well as balanced analogue and AES/EBU digital audio capture and playback.

According to its developer, UltraStudio 3D is “perfect” for 3D workfl ows because of its interleaved, side by side,

BLACKMAGIC – ULTRASTUDIO 3D

current editing software. To solve this problem, Blackmagic Design’s Media Express 3 has been upgraded to handle both interleaved and dual stream 3D for capture and playback of 3D media for a complete 3D solution.

MARTIN – MAC AURANewly released by Martin Professional is the MAC Aura - a compact LED moving head wash light with zoom that offers “eye-candy” aura effects plus functions as a highly capable single-lens wash with fully pre-mixed colour.

The Aura’s optical system combines two illumination systems in one luminaire – multicolour beam LEDs and a backlight LED lens array – to produce a visual palette that takes the synthetic look out of LED wash lights for “truly unique” lighting design possibilities, according to the manufacturer.

Use the fi xture as a powerful single-lens wash or employ a separate set of

individually controllable multicolour LEDs for radical to subtle eye-candy looks; mix, match, and create new effects that take the unnatural LED look out of LED lighting. For the ultimate in easy-to-produce visuals, use the Aura’s built-in FX engine to create extraordinary effects fast.

The MAC Aura houses an unrivalled 11 to 58 degree zoom capable of angling wide or extremely tight for high intensity beam looks. In addition, almost 4000 lumens of output are produced from the ultra-compact 5.6 kilogram package.

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THE GUIDE

50SAS OCTOBER 2011

THE GUIDE


GLP – IMPRESSION WASH ONEGLP’s impression Wash One made its UK debut at PLASA last month. Boasting a 400W RGB LED light engine, and the same technology as the Spot One, the fully-featured luminaire is said to be able to deliver delicate colour changes or instantaneous colour bumps over a wide, carefully-calibrated colour spectrum.

The impression Wash One offers a six to 60 degree zoom range as well as a three degree narrow beam mode and variable soft-edge beam control that allows softness adjustment. The beam shaping function enables users to illuminate only the parts of a stage that need to be lit.

Also new from GLP’s partner fi rm G-LEC is the Phantom 15, which uses latest technology to deliver maximum screen brightness in a new 15 millimetre pixel pitch format. Phantom 15 offers a “new level” of fl exibility at a higher resolution than has previously been available, according to the manufacturer, and incorporates seamlessly with other panels in the Phantom range of different resolutions (Phantom 30 and Phantom 60) to create a uniform mixed screen.

FLARE AUDIO - TRIWAVE

ADAMSON – PROJECT ENERGIAAdamson Systems Engineering has announced the commencement of the much anticipated Project Energia, which was conceived after “years of analysing the ineffi ciencies found in sound re-enforcement and with performance venue optimisation,” according to the fi rm.

The key components of Energia include a series of new loudspeaker systems, with networkable Class D amplifi er modules, DSP, cable and power distribution, AVB network hardware with software integration of control, three-dimensional simulation and diagnostics.

To ensure what it says is reliability and a smooth integration of Adamson’s technology, there are three phases involved in the release of the fi rst loudspeaker system in Project Energia - mechanical fi eld testing, Class D amplifi er - power distribution and ground control fi eld testing and network and network hardware fi eld testing. Phase one began in July when the manufacturer unveiled the E15 Line Source system with a series of strategic beta partners and phase two – the introduction of new Class D amplifi er modules and power distribution and ground control system - is expected to begin “once we’re fi nished evaluating transducers, sound chambers and the mechanical elements of the system,” according to Brock Adamson, president and CEO.

“We did not want to simply re-package our old systems and offer them as though they were something new. On the contrary, we wanted to provide something exciting that hasn’t been done,” he adds.

Audio manufacturer Flare Audio has announced the arrival of the Triwave Flying System for the Triwave i10 multi format loudspeaker.

Designed by Flare Audio and milled in the UK by specialist engineers, the Triwave Flying System is made from solid aerospace aluminium and is marketed as being extremely lightweight, very quick to fly and capable of flying up to 33 Triwave i10 speakers.

Triwave requires no system EQ, which results in a fl at response that has what some FOH’s have described as an “incredible” transient attack during beta testing. They also reported that high frequencies remain totally focused and do not separately drop out with wind, and that destructive interference between speakers has been removed as the HF driver’s couple coherently a small distance away from the speakers at an incredibly high crossover point of 6

.

re with software integration of

KHz. During the Beta tests tight noise level restrictions were easily achieved off site as the audio energy remained coherently focused on the audience.

For more informationplease contact:Samm Medina

Conference [email protected]

Fareed DuberyPublishing Director

[email protected]

BROADCAST CONFERENCE16th November 2011 | Habtoor Grand Resort & Spa | Dubai - UAE

HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al NahyanChairman of the National Media Council (NMC)

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SAS OCTOBER 201152

MOST READ NEWS STORIES OVERALL

1 Ben 10 in Arabic2 Dubai cinema ceiling

collapses3 Nelly rocks Yas Arena4 Adobe acquires Irisdas5 Saudi TV ccontracts awarded

MOST READ SOUND & STAGE NEWS STORIES

1 Nelly rocks Yas Arena2 Britney, McCartney for F13 Showtex goes green4 Dubai cricket stadium gears

up for live events5 Stage collapse kills two

EDITOR’S CHOICES

SPOT POLL

‘SEPTEMBER’S TOP STORIES

23.8%

NEWS

DOHA TRIBECA ANNOUNCES HOPEFULSThe Doha Film Institute (DFI) has announced the feature fi lms and documentaries that will compete in

the 2011 Doha Tribeca Film Festival’s (DTFF) Arab Film Competi-tion. Contenders include the documentary ‘Mama Africa’and ‘The Woman in the Fifth’.

NEWS

BRITNEY SPEARS, INCUBUS, PAUL MCCARTNEY FOR F1The much-anticipated Yasalam 2011

programme has been revealed, with music icon Sir Paul McCa-rtney’s making his fi rst ever performance in the UAE. Pop-icon Britney Spears is also set to take the stage at the Yas Arena.

Allen & Heath mixing consoles have been installed throughout the new Princess Nou-ra bint Abdul Rahman University for Women in Riyadh, in the king-dom of Saudi Arabia.

Supplied by CAP France BAT with the support of Allen & Heath distributor PAXT Pro Audio En-gineering, the audio installation encompasses the University’s Convention Centre including a 2800 capac-ity theatre, a smaller 1400 capacity theatre, a rehearsal/multi-purpose theatre, and ten seminar rooms.

The University was officially opened by Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah less than three years after laying the first foundation stone. The major building project covers eight mil-lion sq metres, and includes administration

buildings, 13 faculties, a 700-bed student hospital, labora-tories, research centres and a residential area including ac-commodation for students and staff. The capac-ity of the uni-versity is around 26,000 students.

The two larger theatres feature a total of four iDR-48 MixRacks and four iLive-T112 Control Surfaces to manage front-of-house and monitors, whilst the Black Box rehearsal theatre contains an iDR-32 MixRack with iLive-T80 Control Surface. Additionally, ZED-14 analogue stereo USB mixers are in-stalled in each of the seminar rooms to mix wireless,goose-neck mics and programme audio sources.

BRITNEY SPEARS

14.3% 19.0% 35.7% 7.1%INCUBUS THE CULT PAUL MCCARTNEY WYCLEF JEAN

Allen & Heath selected for Saudi University

WHO ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT SEEING AT THIS YEARÊS YASALAM FESTIVAL?

THIS MONTH’S...


54SAS OCTOBER 2011

HitlistTheMUST ATTEND EVENT...

InfoComm MEA 2011 is the region’s defi nitive pro-AV and systems integration technology platform. Co-located alongside GITEX Technology Week, the show will be a dedicated showcase for AV products and solutions, as well as feature

CTS-accredited education seminars from the InfoComm Academy, along with a variety of conferences and training sessions.

YOUTUBE CLIP OF THE MONTHThe Technology Behind Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, automationThe latest in a series of clips pro-duced by PRG that takes viewers behind the scenes on the ‘most expensive musical ever’, in this instalment we hear about the au-tomation and fl ying systems that provide some of the special ef-fects. For instance, over the stage itself, just shy of the theatre steel’s capacity, PRG rigged an unprecedented 125,000 pounds (almost 57,000 kilograms) of scenery and lighting that fl ies in and out. Two PRG Commander consoles are used to control 145 automation effects, including PRG’s propri-etary Stage Command System (SCS) winches and other automation devices. To put this in perspective, a typical Broadway musical has 15-20 automation effects with the largest musicals topping out at about 50 effects.YouTube search term: PRG Spider Man automation

Lighting handbookNow available on the Andoid platform, Lighting handbook displays information on over 750 moving lights, dimmers, conventional fi xtures and effects – making it a very handy app for is a tool for theatre, corporate and event technicians.

Weight, power consumption, connection types, light output, gobo wheels, beam size, and other information is displayed for each product. According to its developer, in this fi rst release it has all the core features that the iOS version has, and in time will gain more features such as searching, submit a fi xture, lighting calculator and electrical formulas in app purchases and more.

If your device is connected to the internet, the manual is then available for viewing right within the app. You can also store manuals for offl ine viewing either within Lighting Handbook or in your favourite PDF viewing app.

The app is available now for $4.99.

App of the month

Infomm/GITEX Technology WeekOctober 9 to 13, 2011, Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre

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BACK STAGE

56SAS OCTOBER 2011

“I designed the stage especially just for this one performance; it will never be used again. When you see what I’ve built it will be really exciting.”

Lady Gaga has added set designer to her impressive resume after creating the stage she performed on at the I Heart Radio Festival in

Las Vegas last month.

“They are cutting it very fi ne – there’s obviously a lot of work to do and we know they are conscious of sharing the contracts around but at the same time, we need to make sure we’re ready and we can meet what they’re asking for.”

A Dubai-based production profession, who asked to remain anonymous, expressed their frustration at the short lead time

that those awarded contracts by Flash Entertainment for its upcoming concerts at Yas Arena are facing.

“It’s become the piano equivalent of [Led Zeppelin’s] ‘Stairway To Heaven’, everyone thinks they can play it.”

A Dublin instrument shop assistant explains a sign placed in its window that reads ‘Strictly NO Adele’. He told The

Independent that workers were sick of customers trying to play the singers piano ballad ‘Someone Like You’ on its

keyboards. “The sign was a bit of a joke, but the song can drive you mad,” he adds. The store’s keyboard prohibition

also applies to Beethoven’s ‘Für Elise’ and any Michael Nyman material.

“I wouldn’t rule it out. In fact, I read the other day Paul said he wouldn’t mind

Off the record...

doing something. If something came up as special, we could maybe do that, maybe the Olympics or something. But I certainly wouldn’t rule it out and he is a wonderful singer, there’s no doubt about that.”

Roger Taylor, drummer for Queen, told Rolling Stone that the band may reform with frontman Paul Rodgers for some live shows.

The band toured with Rodgers as their frontman from 2004 to 2009, but ended the collaboration and have not played live since.

Taylor also revealed that he is putting together his own version of Queen as a new touring tribute band. The Queen

Extravaganza will be put together from open auditions, which Taylor himself will oversee.

“Essentially we’re producing our own show using our own footage and production values to make a show because let’s

face it, we’re getting a little long in the tooth, but there are an awful lot of tribute bands, some of them good, some of them

not good. And we put together something that we felt was purely extraordinary,” he said.

“Don’t hold your breath.”Mick Jagger disappointed The Rolling Stones fans

the world over when squashed rumours of a special 50th anniversary gig next year in a recent interview.

Earlier this year, Keith Richards had hinted that there was “something was in the wind” to mark 50 years

since the group played their first ever gig. Jagger recently claimed that if band were to celebrate their

50th anniversary next year, then Richards would not be invited. The pair fell out when Richards mocked the size of Jagger’s manhood in his million-selling

autobiography ‘Life’.

Stop! Adele songs are banned at an Irish music store.

Lady Gaga on the stage she designed

for the I Heart Music festival.

Mick Jagger has dispelled rumours of a Rolling Stones reuinion.

Yas Arena - a major source of business for local suppliers.

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sound & stage - october 2011

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