The Awards for Innovation, for the first time, were judged 'live' at the Innovation Gallery by an independent panel of 16 expert judges, in front of show visitors and a camera team on Sunday 12 September. Show visitors are able to watch the judging process replayed on large screens in the interactive Innovation Gallery for the rest of the show.
Seven Awards for Innovation and one Gold Award were presented by PLASA CEO Matthew Griffiths.
The winners of the 2010 PLASA Awards for Innovation were . . .
Clay Paky Sharpy, a newly developed beamlight that uses a combination of innovative engineering and optical technology to achieve a distinctive, bright high-output from a 170W source. In the words of the Judges, "we never thought we'd see a 170W light that we could use in Wembley Arena".
Outline Audio Mini Compass i-Mode. This loudspeaker's combination of generic IT and innovative line array technology, the judges found, represents a step forward for the industry in systems integration. The cabinet's built-in web-browser support makes it possible to control a complete loudspeaker array from a plethora of industry standard devices.
LumenRadio's CRMX NovaFlex. This device impressed the Judges for its ability to act as a complete cross-protocol wireless lighting control system. It was also noted for its recent use of RDM in an architectural application, giving feedback from external sensors - thereby providing an energy efficient outdoor lighting solution.
Robert Juliat Aledin. The Judges felt that Robert Juliat's usual high standards have not been compromised in the search for a usable LED profile spot. The design allows the LED module to be retrofitted to the manufacturer's existing tungsten fixtures. The 85W source will be upgradable to a 150W version as soon as the technology is available.
Coemar Spa Reflection FullSpectrum. By locating rear facing LEDs at the front of the fixture the reflector creates a homogenised beam that the Judges felt successfully eliminates a lot of the problems associated with existing LED wash lights, especially the issue of multiple shadowing.
d&b audiotechnik B4 subwoofer. The judges commented that, while cardioid subwoofers are not new technology, the concept of a passive cardioid sub certainly is. The Judges were exceptionally impressed that, rather than using traditional DSP active technology, the B4 uses PSP - 'plywood signal processing'.
CAST BlackTrax - First Phase. This product uses WYSIWYG as a host platform to provide real-time three dimensional object tracking data to feed into a variety of position-dependent lighting, sound and rigging control systems. The Judges felt that the flexibility and accuracy of the Cast system has taken this existing concept and successfully re-energised it.
Gold Award
Martin Audio Multicellular Line Array (MLA). Each and every driver in each and every line array element is controlled individually by its own channel of amplifier and its own channel of DSP processing. The judges commented that "Coupled with the calculation software and the built-in net
