USA - The latest addition to ADJ’s Entour range of atmospheric effect generators, the Entour Chill, is a compact yet powerful low-fogger. Using a combination of standard water-based fog juice and regular ice cubes, it can be used to create a dramatic low-lying fog effect without the hassle or expense of procuring dry ice. Building on the success of ADJ’s popular Mister Kool Series, the Entour Chill features enhanced technology that allows for increased output and a robust design that makes it suitable for a wide variety of applications. A newly-developed 800W heater system allows for continuous output for up to an hour, while sophisticated new electronic temperature control lets the machine heat up in just 3 minutes and stay at optimum temperature ready for immediate firing of the effect when it is required. The unit features an internal tank design, however a slot
USA - Audio Precision has released the latest update to APx500 audio measurement software, version 6.0. With this release, APx software supports multiple simultaneous input types, enabling the concurrent measurement of up to 16 channels of digital and eight channels of analogue audio data. This new multi-input capability, paired with the highest channel count and widest range of digital I/O available, provides APx users critical cross-domain insight and the opportunity to reduce testing time. Multiple simultaneous input types, or multi-input, is the ability to activate a second input type on any APx modular audio analyzer, or APx515 analyzer, and make measurements simultaneously on analogue and digital signals. With two input types enabled - for example, analogue for one or more reference microphones and PDM 16 for an array of MEMS microphones - there will be measureme
Germany - Steinberg has released the Steinberg Production Starter Kit. As the name implies, this hardware/software bundle includes “all the essentials for recording and making music productions from A-Z”. The Steinberg Production Starter Kit features the UR22C USB 3.0 audio interface, Nektar’s Impact LX25+ keyboard, the ST-H01 studio headphones and the ST-M01 studio condenser microphone. On the software side, Steinberg’s Cubase Artist 10.5 is the centrepiece of music productions, with HALion Sonic 3, WaveLab LE and Cubasis LE, the sequencer app for the iPad and iPhone, rounding out this bundle and making it one of a kind. The UR22C is a two-channel audio interface with USB-C connectivity, housing two TRS/XLR combo inputs that include studio-grade D-PRE microphone preamps, two TRS outputs, MIDI I/O and one headphones output. Other highlights are latency-free har
France - L-Acoustics has announced that its L-ISA Immersive Hyperreal Sound technology will soon be natively controllable via Yamaha Professional Audio’s entire line-up of Rivage PM digital mixing systems, including the newly launched PM5 and PM3, thanks to a DeskLink co-developed by the two manufacturers. As a feature of Rivage PM firmware version 4.0, which will be released simultaneously with the PM5 (CS-R5) and PM3 (CS-R3) hardware in the coming months, DeskLink enables Yamaha’s newest consoles to be fully capable of controlling L-ISA mixes, just like their larger siblings, the flagship PM10 and PM7 mixing systems. Within the Rivage PM desks, for every mono or stereo input channel, direct control of L-ISA Objects or Groups will be available on the console control surface and touch screens. The five main L-ISA parameters - Pan, Width, Distance, Elevation, and
Europe - Audio-Technica has released the version 1.1.1 update of its Wireless Manager software, available for immediate download. Wireless Manager is a Mac OS/Windows application for remote configuration, control, monitoring, spectrum management, and frequency coordination of compatible Audio-Technica wireless devices. For those customers who have A-T Wireless Manager previously installed the software will be automatically updated. Updated features in version 1.1.1 include improved usability, layout and control; enhanced scrolling capability; improved visibility of all frequency coordinated devices; updated and expanded channel list reports; upgraded user tools; and minor bug fixes. The software is compatible with Microsoft Windows 8.1, 10; macOS High Sierra (Version 10.13), macOS Mojave (Version 10.14). A-T Wireless Manager software is compatible with all wire
France - Robert Juliat has launched a new range of luminaires – and the latest introduction to its LED lines – Sully. Sully is a new family of LED products based around the same exclusive 115W white LED engine, with an output that equals or exceeds that of a traditional 1kW tungsten fixture. Robert Juliat has developed a new LED compartment which will enable customers to upgrade current traditional profile installations to LED by simply swapping the tungsten lamp base on their existing RJ 600SX Series for the new T650SX LED module. The new accessory is also compatible with Robert Juliat’s Aledin Series, Figaro, and Quincy, and with its tungsten Cricket and MSD Buxie followspots. This new development is kinder to the planet as well as your budget. Any 600SX Series profiles can be transformed from tungsten to LED sources whilst retaining the iconic, ergonomic
Europe - With fellow General Device Type Format (GDTF) founders MA Lighting and Robe lighting, global design and BIM software provider Vectorworks reports that DIN SPEC 15800 officially recognises the GDTF as an open standard for the entertainment industry worldwide. "With this latest accomplishment of DIN SPEC 15800, GDTF will continue its growth and see even greater success now that it is recognised as a standard way of communicating controllable characteristics of lighting fixtures,” said Vectorworks CEO Dr. Biplab Sarkar. “GDTF has covered a lot of ground in the two short years since inception. We already have 35 manufacturers signed on to support the open standard and are grateful for their contributions to help build a solid basis for a standardized format that will advance the industry in new ways. I look forward to seeing more manufacturers, as well as more
Germany - LED manufacturer Absen reports that they they have won the Red Dot Product Design award for their latest rental staging LED solution, the Venus (VN) series. The Red Dot Design Award has become established internationally as a seal of quality for good design. Established in 1955, the Product Design award is presented to the best products created each year, as decided by a jury of 40 international experts on product innovation. Winners of the award are judged on a range of elements, such as innovation, functionality, quality, and ecological compatibility. Commenting on the winning VN Series, the Red Dot Award’s jury praised “a particularly high flexibility and durability which makes the Venus series universally applicable in various usage scenarios.” “We’re delighted to have been presented a Red Dot award for Product Design,” said Amy Tang, VP
UK - Cornwall-based bespoke audio specialist Apt-GB has introduced the CMA Range consisting of ‘two compact top packs that pack a serious punch’ – the versatile SC208 (CMA44) and SC122 (CMA82). The speakers are designed to cover most install, conference and live music needs. With multiple rigging points they fit discreetly into most spaces in installations. You can also rotate the horn for more control. Leading the design team, company founder Graham Gosden has over 20 years of experience in design and engineering for live touring and fixed installations. All Apt-GB cabinets are manufactured in itson-site facility at the heart of Cornwall’s Bodmin Moor.
Italy - Powersoft has announced that its full line of amplifiers will be available for specification within the popular D-Tools software for systems integrators. In celebration of this announcement, Powersoft dealers will be eligible for a free 45-day trial of D-Tools Cloud. “It is our pleasure to bring the full breadth of Powersoft amplification to the D-Tools platform,” says Francesco Fanicchi, brand communication and trade marketing manager, Powersoft. “Our diverse line-up of industry-leading amplifiers presents compelling possibilities for installations of all sizes, and we are happy to now make them available to integrators through this powerful and efficient software tool.” “We are excited to add Powersoft to our amplification offerings within D-Tools’ software solutions,” says Barrie McCorkle, director of supplier programs, D-Tools. “Powersoft am
Switzerland - Following on the success of its virtual NAB booth, audio over IP specialist Barix will present its latest products for the professional AV market and host individual meetings with end-users and systems integrators during its virtual InfoComm event on 22-24 June. “While we will miss not being able to meet with AV professionals, integrators, and partners face-to-face in Las Vegas this year, we look forward to engaging with them virtually,” comments Manuel Merki, head of marketing at Barix. “Our virtual NAB booth for broadcasters was well received, and with more virtual event experience under our belts, our Virtual InfoComm may prove to be even better. With businesses starting to emerge from lockdowns and projects ramping back up around the world, this is a perfect time for end-users and integrators to learn what’s new from Barix and discuss their specifi
UK - DiGiCo’s latest software update, V2.6, for its S Series consoles delivers a number of significant new features. These include control of the A164D Wall LCD and A168D Stage for networked audio in installations via the Dante 64@96 DMI, and support for the DMI-KLANG, both of which were launched at this year’s ISE show in Amsterdam. A164D Wall LCD, a 16 input 4 output I/O Expander, and A168D Stage, a portable 16 input 8 output I/O Expander, deliver all the connectivity of the original A164 Wall LCD and A168 Stage, but with the additional advantage of Dante connectivity. This not only adds the flexibility and familiarity of the Dante network protocol, but also means that consultants and integrators can take advantage of existing network infrastructure to drop I/O anywhere on the network. With a Dante DMI 64@96 card installed in an S Series console, access to 64 ch
USA - Altman Lighting has announced release of the new PHX3 LED Profile and PHX3 LED Zoom luminaires. Designed for theatres, special events, television studios, or ‘any location where superior, energy-efficient lighting performance is required’, the 340W PHX3 LED ellipsoidals ‘enhance your design versatility and efficiency without sacrificing performance’. “Wanting to make sure that we implemented the most robust technology possible into our next-generation LED ellipsoidals, the PHX3 Profile and Zoom introduce a number of innovative features in function, style, and efficiency,” says Pete Borchetta, Altman vice president product innovation. “Having spoken with a number of lighting designers and dealers worldwide, we wanted to expand our PHX series even further with these two new high-performance and dependable luminaires.” Utilising a 340W (RGBL) Red, Gr
USA - The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the demand for UV-C lighting products offering reliable disinfection, even from coronaviruses. ACT Lighting has announced that it is distributing UV-C lighting devices from Luxibel as well as the GSUV product range from Golden Sea. “ACT Lighting has begun to distribute UV-C disinfecting devices from our suppliers, which are ideal for use in production environments of all types,” says Aaron Hubbard, regional sales manager at ACT Lighting. “We are delivering a myriad of products from both manufacturers geared toward the permanent installation markets as well as portable solutions ranging from smaller, consumer level applications to theatres and arenas.” Luxibel, the professional AV lighting brand of AED group, which has its headquarters in Belgium and offices in The Netherlands, Germany, France and the UK, currently offe
UK - TSL Lighting has developed a Covid-secure remote control lighting system. The Basingstoke-based company devised the solution in response to a project brief from digital web streaming pioneers Beings Broadcast, on behalf of creative agency Collider. “The COVID-19 lockdown has required companies across the event production industry to look at new ways to deliver client communications,” says TSL’s Loz Wilcox. “When the message is important, it’s imperative that this is delivered in a slick, professional manner and sometimes this can be tough to do outside of the normal production environment. “TSL was contacted by lighting designer Paul Cook, who required a lightweight and easily transportable lighting solution. There were multiple needs: no bulky flight cases which might not be suitable for a home broadcast, simple setup that could be achieved by s
USA - American Audio’s APX12 GO BT is a self-contained portable audio system designed for playing music and making announcements ‘absolutely anywhere’. Combining a 12” speaker cabinet, class D amplifier, internal battery, on board media player with Bluetooth and wireless mic receiver, it offers ‘a complete audio system in one easy to transport package’. With a sleek moulded plastic design and matte black finish, the speaker enclosure is fitted with a tough protective metal grille on its front. It features a 12” woofer with a 1.5” voice coil paired with a 1” high frequency driver. An internal Class D module provides 65 Watts RMS of amplification for a peak power output of 200 Watts. The system has a frequency response of 40Hz-18KHz and a sensitivity of 93 +/- 2 dB. The APX12 GO BT’s internal 700mA 12V battery allows up to eight hours of use from a si
Italy - Powersoft has released new plug-ins supporting Mezzo Series and its non-DSP install dedicated amplifier platforms ranges for the Q-SYS and Crestron control ecosystems. These free-to-download plug-ins allow for user friendly network-based control of amplifier functionality via third-party systems. They feature ‘a refined, modern-looking interface, extended functionality, and a high level of user customisability, compared to legacy plug-ins for the format’. In addition, a new Q-SYS plug-in supporting DSP+D versions of Duecanali, Quattrocanali, Ottocanali, X and T series is slated for release this summer with brand new functionality. “Powersoft enables wide-ranging control and configuration of our amplifiers through our own ArmoníaPlus software, but we are also committed to ensuring interoperability with other popular control ecosystems,” says Micha
Denmark - DPA Microphones has introduced the latest addition to its microphone line-up, the 4097 Core Micro Shotgun Microphone. Featuring the same sonic qualities as the brand’s supercardioid Choir Microphone, the 4097 Core Micro Shotgun has been optimised to pick up speech from a distance. Incorporated into the company’s new 4097 Core Interview Kit, the mic has been designed for use with a lightweight boom and windjammer. This kit is particularly useful for journalists in today’s socially distanced world as it allows users to conduct interviews from up to two meters (6.5 feet) away. It is a plug and play solution that allows users to get started quickly and employ their existing workflows, says the company. The kit features one each of DPA’s new 4099 Cold Shoe Mount, which incorporates a one-quarter-inch thread; DPA MicroDot cable; transmitter plate; lightwei
USA - Visix has released version 1.32 of their AxisTV Signage Suite digital signage software with a new Voice Recogniser Widget that turns any screen into a hands-free interactive sign. AxisTV Signage Suite users can drag and drop the new Voice Recognizer Widget (VRW) onto any layout, then set custom parameters that instruct the sign what to listen for and how to respond to requests. It can be used on single displays, banks of screens and video walls in any environment. “Clients no longer have to depend on touchscreens for interactivity, which is especially important in this time of concern about germ transmission,” says Jill Perardi, creative services manager for Visix. “Just as people got used to using touchscreens because of smartphones, they’re now starting to expect a voice user interface like they use with their virtual assistants at home. Now anyone with
UK - sunDial quad, the PLASA Gold Award-winning mains LED dimmer from Artistic Licence, demonstrates just how good the dimming achievable with an ETC Source Four Mini LED can be. Artistic Licence used its photometric lab to create a custom dimming curve for the fixture, with impressive results. The Source Four Mini LED from ETC is a miniature version of their classic stage spot. It uses a 12W LED and some clever optics to provide impressive projection, aimed at the museum, retail and restaurant markets. It has an onboard LED driver that can be controlled with mains phase dimming - as such, it is compatible with the sunDial quad dimmer. Curious to see the results, Artistic Licence trialled the Source Four using sunDial's default linear curve. The dimming was excellent, but limited to the central 70-80% of the DMX512 range. Additionally, the linear curve provides limited
USA - Obsidian Control Systems continues to expand its line of professional solutions with the launch of the NX Sync, a plug’n’play USB SMPTE timecode device. The NX Sync captures timecode in various SMPTE formats from its three-pin XLR connection and converts it to a MIDI Timecode (MTC) stream, where it can be read into Onyx or any other MIDI Timecode compatible software. Additionally, it also has the power to take MTC and send it back out as SMPTE. The NX Sync contains a powerful hardware architecture for instant processing and minimal frame delays. The NX Sync does not require custom drivers, and in addition to working with Onyx, it can be used as an SMPTE to MTC/ MTC to SMPTE device for both Windows 10 and MAC OS software applications. The device is available for immediate shipping from Obsidian Control Systems’ global distribution network.
The Netherlands - Highlite International has introduced a new addition to the DAP family: the Edge wireless microphones. DAP's Edge-series wireless microphones feature a handheld system and a beltpack system. The UHF True Diversity receiver is equipped with a clear full colour LCD-screen which makes operating the system very easy. The main feature of the Edge-Series is the Scan-feature. With this attribute the Edge receiver shows exactly which frequencies are not occupied, giving the user the possibility to choose the right frequency without having to worry about any interference. The system operates between 606MHz and 668MHz frequencies and is therefore very well suited for use across many parts of Europe. The handheld unit holds a cardioid condenser microphone and both the handheld and the beltpack are equipped with an OLED-display Communication between t
Europe - Yamaha has launched new additions to its range of professional audio products, the Rivage PM5 and Rivage PM3 digital mixing systems. The launch of two new control surfaces and two new DSP engines gives sound engineers greater choice and flexibility to deliver optimum sound in a much wider range of applications, says the company. The core components of the new PM5 and PM3 are the CS-R5 and CS-R3 control surfaces. Both feature the same fader configuration as the rest of the Rivage PM series, with three bays of 12 faders each. The combination of touch screens and selected channel controls offers functionality and intuitive operation familiar to Rivage PM series users, while also offering easy entry for users of Yamaha’s CL and QL series consoles. The commonality of fader configuration also means the same layout can be maintained when using different control sur
Germany - The VLink communication solution for RTS intercom matrix systems has become a key tool for broadcasters during the COVID-19 pandemic. The software-based virtual intercom platform has been a common part of the broadcast comms workflow for many years. However, it has become even more relevant in recent months as it has allowed broadcasters all over the world to work remotely during the international crisis, maintaining vital public information services while observing social distancing protocols. RTS VLink enables remote users to interface with their RTS intercom matrices via the Internet using a simple application, allowing a new degree of control and flexibility from anywhere in the world - including from home. “In the current pandemic, remote production is the new normal for broadcasters everywhere,” says Denis Castanet, director product management at RT
