USA - - Based upon the technologies inside two of their most in-demand fixtures, Philips Vari-Lite has announced the new VLX3 LED Wash, VL400 Spot, VL440 Spot, VL770 Spot and the VL880 Spot luminaires.

"We constantly strive to strengthen our product portfolio. Over the past few years, we received numerous requests to create smaller and more affordable versions of our most popular fixtures," said Bob Schacherl, Philips Vari-Lite vice president of sales and marketing. "Since we are generally recognised as the pioneers of the modern automated luminaire, we knew we could no

Germany - At ProLight+Sound in Frankfurt, Meyer Sound will offer visitors an intimate, hands-on experience of its comprehensive audio system solutions. Working products that will be demonstrated include the D-Mitri digital audio platform, a range of loudspeaker and system integration tools, and the Constellation acoustic system, a 2011 MIPA Award nominee. On Thursday, 7 April at 16:00, the Meyer Sound cocktail reception will provide show guests an opportunity "to socialise with industry friends while enjoying the best hospitality at ProLight+Sound".

Visitors to the Meyer sta

UK - Manchester-based lighting rental house, DBN Lighting has just completed another purchase of Chroma-QTM Color ForceTM LED fixtures to keep up with increasing demand for the range from its customer base.

The latest investment saw DBN take delivery of 30 fixtures - a mix of the 30cm wide multi-purpose Color Force 12 and 1.2m/1.8m Color Force 48 / 72 battens -doubling their existing stock and bringing their total count to over 60 units, currently the largest in the UK.

DBN was also the first rental company in the UK to buy these Chroma-Q fixtures when they launched in June 2010. Si

Germany - Clay Paky's Sharpy , which will take centre stage at Frankfurt, produces a parallel, laser-like beam with an output of almost 60,000 lx at 20m.. It offers 14 dichroic colours and 17 gobos, allowing designers to sculpt the beam into an array of spectacular mid-air effects. Additionally the focusing system produces pristine pattern projections even at very long distances. Weighing just 16 kg (35 lbs), Sharpy is small, lightweight and incredibly fast. Its tiny size makes it easy to install and transport.

Sharpy Chrome lends an element of glamour, while preserving its optimal th

Germany - The VB 208 from K.M.E. is a passive subwoofer with two 8" neodymium speakers in a hybrid cabinet. By using the combination of bass-reflex housing and horn system a powerful and precise bass sound reproduction with high SPL at low dimensions is achieved, says the company. Two VB 208 together with two passive 8" top units VL 8 and a digital controller amplifier DA 428 with system preset form the ultra-compact actively channelled system S1+ with low transport weight and high power.

The installation version VB 208 i offers a special mounting set for a quick and safe wa

UK - Switchcraft's new SC900 Series DI boxes provide "a revolutionary concept in DI technology". For the first time, the ground lift switch can be controlled remotely using +48V phantom power from the console.

The units can be operated in two modes. Manual mode enables users to control the ground lift switch from the DI box. Phantom mode allows users to control the ground lift switch remotely using +48V phantom power from the console. When phantom power is engaged, a blue LED illuminates to indicate the ground is lifted.

Other key features include ease of use, fully shield

Germany - Cooper Controls has teamed up with its German distribution partners to present their Zero 88 entertainment lighting control range at Pro Light & Sound.

New to the show this year is the ZerOS Android application - Zero 88's latest addition to its suite of remote applications. Continuing their commitment to mobile device integration, this new app adds to their existing iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and Windows Mobile applications.

The ZerOS Remote Android app, the first for the entertainment technology industry, allows remote control of any ZerOS console. The app allows users to

Germany - Barix comes to Prolight + Sound with new Audio over IP solutions for the stage and general pro audio applications. The company will show its new Exstreamer P5 amplified decoder - the IP speaker without the speaker - and a new Barix IPAM Series module for IP Audio streaming applications.

The new IPAM 100 Industrial IP Audio Module, being shown to pro audio audiences for the first time, is designed for use in ruggedized OEM applications. It is essentially the core module of the Barix Annuncicom 155, developed specifically to operate within challenging environmental conditions

Germany - New products from Gerriets include Vario Ergodance, a new sprung-floor system specially designed for professional dance applications and featuring a sophisticated locking mechanism for quick and safe installation.

New projection screens are also scheduled. The Transmission screen (for diffusion and rear projection) premiered to much acclaim in late 2010, and is followed by Even. This pure white screen offers nearly identical luminance distribution both in front and rear projection applications, making it suitable for soft-edge blending and LED projection.

Another upcoming

Germany ProLight+Sound sees the official launch of Outline's GTO line array which is already a road-proven rig, having been very successfully deployed on several European and American tours and events. Artists including BB King, Peter Gabriel, Willie Nelson, Rufus Wainwright, and their production companies, have piloted the new system with consistently impressive results, says Outline.

Dowlen Sound Inc. of Arvada, Colorado used their new GTO system for the first time at Colorado's Mile High Music Festival in August 2010, as part of Outline's 'Early Adopter' product introduction progra

Germany - Robert Juliat is launching its much-anticipated Aledin 330 LED Wash at Prolight & Sound. This new, variable beam angle, 85W LED washlight is a complement to the award-winning Robert Juliat Aledin 630 LED Profile spot.

Using the same technology and light source as the Profile, the Aledin 330 Wash offers a choice of two colour temperatures (3500K or 5800K) making it suitable for theatre, studio and event applications as well as architectural and exhibition work.

With a variable beam ranging from 20° - 98°, its powerful beam is "extremely versatile with angles ra

Germany - Audinate reports that the new Dante enabled HD2 loudspeaker processor from Four Audio for wiil be shown at ProLight+Sound. The HD2 is a high end 4-in 8-out loudspeaker management system with advanced features such as FIR filtering with high frequency resolution down to the lowest frequencies and a dynamic input range of 135 dB.

Rainer Thaden, Four Audio's managing director comments, "Instead of emulating familiar IIR crossovers with FIR filters, we use measurements of the speakers and do the inverse of what the speaker does. You can make the complete system of speaker a

USA - HK Audio's Elements modular sound reinforcement system is now shipping in the US.. Elements enables users to easily put together a system suitable for every situation using just six easy-to-combine components. The system can be configured to support anything from an intimate speaking engagement to a multi-instrumental concert with a full 3600 Watts of Front of House power. Elements is based on line array technology, consistent with other product offerings from HK Audio.

Setting up the Elements system and tearing it down again is quick and easy, says the company. With E-Connect,

Germany - Out Board will be at Frankfurt Pro-Light + Sound demonstrating the TiMax SoundHub S-Version's combination of sound effects editing and management with comprehensive showcontrol functionality. Aimed at theatre and live events sound designers, the new S-Version features include multitrack Timeline cue programming, clip editing, looping, timeslip, volume-profiling and archiving, plus the waveform-based delay-pan programming pioneered by TiMax.

TiMax SoundHub will be demonstrated alongside the TiMax Tracker performer tracking system which follows presenters, actors, attraction v

Germany - Prolight+Sound 2011 sees Alcons Audio showing the production version of its latest pro-ribbon line array system, two new sub-bass cabinets, giving a glimpse of a new product group and playing a key role in the show's 3D Live In Concert experience.

Designed to be able to deliver the same SPL as equivalent products in the mid-size line array category, but with 15dB less distortion, the Alcons LR24 pro ribbon system utilises the company's pro-ribbon technology "to set a new benchmark in terms of SPL, projection control and sound quality".

Also on show will be two ne

UK - Robe UK will be showing a selection of the latest Robe lighting products on Stand SB30 at PLASA Focus in Leeds, including the newly launched MMX Spot moving light, the new Robin 600 LEDWash and the Robin 600 Series of Spot, Wash and Beam luminaires.

The MMX Spot is the first in a new generation of 1200 Series fixtures offering a neater, smaller, lighter and brighter more energy efficient package. Using the Phillips MSR Platinum 35 lamp combined with a sophisticated optical system, the MMX Spot is a true equivalent of any 1200W spotlight moving head on the market today, says the c

Germany - At Prolight+Sound in Frankfurt, Midiator will present a preview of the upcoming V2.0 of the VisionOS, the core of the Vision Pro console. This new version will incorporate many new features developed in close collaboration with end-users and will be a major upgrade of the software as introduced at last year's PLASA show. The 2.0 features give users the option to create complex shows ranging from live 'busking' widget interfaces to a complete programmed timeline show, in which the focus remains on the Awarded gesture-based interface environment.

The preview of this new versio

Germany - ProLight+Sound 2011 sees Yamaha Commercial Audio launch a new version of its uccessful StageMix iPad app, alongside further new software, the usual wide range of hardware products and a new Facebook page.

A highlight will be the launch of the LS9 version of the StageMix iPad app. Since its launch in September last year, the M7CL version of StageMix has been "a huge success" and producing an LS9-compatible version has been a priority for Yamaha's software development team.

Using the iPad's built-in WiFi (802.11 a/b/g/n) functionality, StageMix directly controls th

Germany - High End Systems, a Barco company, will be showcasing a broad spectrum of product offerings at the 2011 ProLight + Sound expo. This year's event will serve as the launch pad for several new lighting products and upgraded solutions designed to enhance live events with creative lighting solutions, says the company.

High End Systems previewed the intellaspot automated luminaire at last year's show, and will further demonstrate the now-established fixture in full force. Debuting at the expo is the 'indigo highlighter' feature. Exclusive to the intellaspot, the indigo highlighter

UK - Wireless Solution Sweden AB will be demonstrating the new W-DMX G4 line, which is now shipping, during PLASA Focus in Leeds, UK, 18-19 April, Stand RA-C6.

The company will be hosting a free seminar entitled Interference Free Wireless Lighting Controls to increase understanding of wireless technology and how it works, with a special focus on the G4 technology. This is a chance to see the advantages of the associated cost savings and energy efficiency and how to make use of a plug and play system. The seminar will be held on Wednesday, 19 April from 1.00pm - 1.45pm in the We

UK - Chauvet is set to introduce three new products to the UK market at PLASA Focus 2011. "This expansion will allow for a quicker turnaround and access to more products with increased inventory," said Michael Brooksbank, sales manager for Chauvet UK.

WELL, or Wireless Event LED Luminaire, is designed specifically to be a self-contained uplight for any event. Inside each WELL wash light are 12 3W tri-colour LEDS, similar to the 14 found in the COLORado 1-TRI Tour, giving it "great colour mixing without any multi-coloured shadows". It is powered by a 12-volt battery

UK - Jands has announced that its entire range of Vista consoles are now shipping with version 2 of the software. After three years of intense development, extensive testing and finally, use on several major shows and events by beta-testers worldwide - including the opening ceremony of Turku, Finland as joint European Capital of Culture in 2011; the Fifth Gear Live Action Arena at the Autosport International 2011 show in Birmingham, UK; and the BURDA event at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, UAE - the software is now factory-standard with new Vista consoles and available as a

Germany - Prolight + Sound 2011 will see the launch of Proel's HPX, a series that is meant to offer high-end power amplifiers that combine quality, affordability and style.

The four models HPX 900, HPX1200, HPX2400, HPX2800 with output ranging from 900 W to 2800 W using power stages in Class AB and Class H and switching power supplies, maintain clarity and definition in the high frequency range and impressive dynamics in the low end, says the company.

All of these models are capable of providing their maximum rated power on a two-ohm load, making them a very convenient source of pow

Germany - MADRIX V2.12 is the latest update for the LED lighting control software. Again, this is a free update for every user of MADRIX. The new MADRIX version 2.12 will be officially presented at Prolight+Sound 2011 this week.

With the new DVI Patch feature users can simply add rotation, flipping, and spacing to any DVI-based LED installation independently of the hardware controller. This is a substantial improvement over the current situation, says the company. Whereas DMX512 can be configured quite freely, DVI hardware controllers by themselves allowed only very static ways to pos

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