Video and AV

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20 June 2024

USA - Country superstar Thomas Rhett’s tour is hitting US arenas and festivals with an “awesome” lighting and visual show driven by tvONE's Green Hippo brand of Hippotizer Media Servers.

A vast LED screen is constructed in each venue behind a wall of lighting fixtures, which are rigged on a scaffolding-style structure. Wrapping around the top of the stage, mirroring the thrust, a series of LED panels add height and drama. For each show, creative designer Alec Takahashi of BKD plays with depth, texture and layering to create what he describes as a “sense of wonder” with video surfaces.

Two Hippotizer Boreal+ MK2 Media Servers – one as main, one as backup – are being used to provide the processing power, programming ease and eye-candy effects, with a Hippotizer Karst+ MK2 at FOH for HippoNet access.

“To create this show we utili

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19 June 2024

Thailand - Studio X Beyond, in partnership with L&E Beyond, a division of Lighting and Equipment Public Company Limited (L&E), is a virtual production studio recently opened in the heart of Bangkok. On 18 July, during this year’s InfoComm Asia, the studio will host an open house event in partnership with Brompton Technology, AOTO and Disguise.

The event will showcase how Brompton’s advanced LED processing solutions, combined with Virtual Production (VP) technology, Disguise's real-time production capabilities and AOTO's state-of-the-art LED screens, can ‘revolutionise content creation’.

Targeting industry sectors such as film and television production, advertising, music video production, live events, and product launches, Studio X Beyond aims to attract professionals seeking innovative ways to enhance their production quality and eff

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18 June 2024

UK - Midwich and PSCo have signed a distribution deal with Hive, manufacturer of scalable media servers.

This exclusive agreement allows Midwich and PSCo to offer Hive’s full range of products in the UK and Ireland and will be launched at their Beyond the Pixel event on Thursday 20 June at Innovation House, Bracknell. Hive’s sales director, Nigel Sadler, business development manager, Sarah Cox, and co-founder/managing director, Mark Calvert, will be in-person at the event to deliver presentations and demonstrations of their product line to attendees.

The Beehive, Beebox, and Beeblade products create a flexible and scalable media control ecosystem to power complex and creative visuals in a variety of applications including immersive exhibitions, galleries and museums, live shows, theme parks, and high impact advertising.

Lloyd Platt, busin

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17 June 2024

USA - The exterior of Philadelphia’s 21,000-person capacity Wells Fargo Centre has been lit up with rainbow colours installation to mark Pride Month, with ClearLED X-BAR LED bars driven by tvONE's Green Hippo brand of Hippotizer Media Servers.

Lighting and projection designer Rachael Cady was asked by Mark Fink at Green Hippo dealer and integration expert Barbizon Lighting to create the installation in collaboration with the Wells Fargo Center team. It will run throughout global Pride Month.

As part of a recent upgrade of the exterior lighting, Barbizon specified a Green Hippo Hippotizer Amba+ MK2 to run the LED bars, with surround screens that for June are displaying the Progress Pride Flag LGBTQ+ colours. The effect is further augmented by Acclaim Linear One DMX uplighter fixtures reflecting the rainbow theme. The LED bars were supplied by Jones

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17 June 2024

Europe - Neutrik has introduced the NA-2 DLINE series of tough, ultra-compact line I/O to Dante/ Dante to line I/O interface boxes.

Shown at this year’s Prolight + Sound in Frankfurt, the new end-of-network devices provide breakout solutions for analogue and Dante signal paths in-the-field; designed and specified for all manner of live sound and media production applications.

With a miniature form factor and rubber encased metal housing, the new NA-2 DLINE series devices are extremely robust, able to withstand the more extreme demands of a wide range of live performance and media production and acquisition environments.

Rugged construction and rigorous adherence to standards extends to RoHS / REACH compliance, including high levels of flame retardancy and enhanced ESD protection, enable the use of these interface modules in harsh climatic a

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14 June 2024

USA/Europe - Absen announced at InfoComm 2024 that systems integrator Kinly has been named as the first European-based company to be awarded Absen global platinum partner status.

Kinly’s global product board (GPB), led by Jean-Paul Lemmens, conducted an extensive review of all LED manufacturers in the AV market based on performance, value to customers and sustainability.

“The team unanimously decided that Absen was its partner of choice owing to its quality products, global presence and competitive pricing. In addition, Absen’s commitment to prioritising ecofriendly, low energy consumption LED solutions aligns perfectly with our commitment to create a more sustainable future through innovative AV solutions”, said Lemmens.

Under the agreement, Kinly will be the first to access and integrate the latest advancements in LED display techno

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13 June 2024

USA - At this year’s InfoComm, Brompton Technology is unveiling three new members to its panel manufacturer partner programme.

Following the announcement of ROE Visual as the founding member and diamond partner, Brompton has now extended the programme to include gold and blue partnership levels. INFiLED and Absen join as gold partners, while Pixreal becomes a blue partner.

“Brompton launched the scheme earlier this year to help us forge long-lasting, mutually beneficial relationships with LED panel manufacturers we are working with extensively. It is great to be able to welcome INFiLED, Absen and Pixreal into the programme,” says Richard Mead, CEO of Brompton Technology. “These partnerships reinforce our mission to deliver LED video processing compatible with any high-quality LED panels, backed by our industry-renowned 24/7 technical support.

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12 June 2024

USA - The Famous Group is a creative technology provider and mixed reality specialist based in Los Angeles. Working with high-profile brands to create memorable fan experiences, the team was recently involved in Carnival Cruise Line’s launch campaign for its new destination, Celebration Key.

For maximum impact, Carnival and its media agency, Initiative, planned to air adverts during two of the most important sporting events in the US broadcast calendar: the NBA All-Star Game and the NFC Championship. Leading on the creative aspect of the project, the Famous Group deployed Stage Precision’s comprehensive SP toolkit to action a mixed-reality advertisement that would truly capture the imagination of viewers.  

“Carnival Cruise’s new resort is still under construction, so it wasn’t possible to show footage of the destination,” explains Erik

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11 June 2024

Spain - The Teatro Real in Madrid, winner of the International Opera Award for Best Opera House in the world, has acquired five Christie M 4K25 RGB pure laser projectors to enrich its opera, dance, concert, and recital programming with stunning visuals.

The Teatro Real was inaugurated in 1850 and is currently one of the great international centres of opera activity. The building is an architectural mixture with 28 boxes on different floors, in addition to eight prosceniums and the double-height Royal Box. The jewel of the theatre is its 1,472sq.m stage box which accommodates complex scenery changes, including multiple set design elements such as lighting and visuals on stage and in the orchestra pit.

The theatre acquired three Christie lamp-based 3DLP projectors nine years ago, and recently upgraded to more modern and efficient models with improved c

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06 June 2024

Portugal - Europalco has announced the achievement of ISO 20121 certification for sustainability performance across its corporate events.

The ISO 20121 standard, established by the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO), is a global framework for improving sustainable event organisation practices. Its main objective is to help organisations elevate sustainability throughout the event management process.  

This certification highlights Europalco's focus on sustainability throughout its operations, which means adherence to strict criteria for sustainable event management. These standards prioritise the mitigation of environmental, social and economic impact, as well as ensuring the safety of events.

For the Portuguese provider, the certification reflects its commitment to several principles, such as a sustainable approach, brand

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05 June 2024

USA - Brompton Technology will introduce the latest Tessera V3.5 software features at this year’s InfoComm 2024, ‘bringing significant improvements and functionality for professional workflows in live events, virtual production, broadcast, XR, corporate, and esports markets’. Additions include Frame Store, Hidden Markers, and Dark Time Insertion. Tessera V3.5 will be available to Brompton users in June. 

Frame Store adds a capability to the Tessera LED processor to store and recall 24 bitmaps. These bitmaps can either be captured from a live video source or uploaded directly to the processor. The feature is integrated into the existing Test Pattern function, resolving previous limitations in test pattern quality by supporting industry-standard HDR to deliver unparalleled depth of colour and brightness. The Frame Store function also allows users to acc

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03 June 2024

UK - Visual Elements Ltd. has announced that Sam Tullett will join its board as sales director. Tullett brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in sales, particularly in developing multiple revenue streams for the business. His key role at Visual Elements will be to launch the company’s new dry-hire department and, in conjunction with Visual Elements’ account managers, promote the growth of our existing business.

Tullett will continue as managing director at STLS and join Mike Townsend and Amanda Townsend as sales director at Visual Elements. “Customers at both companies will retain their existing points of contact and can expect the same high levels of service and quality they have come to know and trust,” a statement says.

Mike Townsend of Visual Elements comments: “This is an exciting time for Visual Elements - Sam’s investment as

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03 June 2024

The Netherlands - Lighting and sound solutions provider DPL Licht en Geluid brought the '90s back to life in a spectacle at the recent Pump Up the '90s event. Held on 20 April, the Dutch event welcomed a line-up of artists including Charly Lownoise, T-Spoon, Flamman & Abraxas, Critical Mass, DJ Potato, DJ Zany and Don Cartel, all of whom delivered under the glow of equipment from Showtec, Infinity and DMT.

The Pump Up the '90s event at Evenementenhal Hardenberg witnessed an explosion of nostalgia as attendees were transported back to the golden era of dance music, with the expertise of DPL Licht en Geluid taking the experience to soaring heights. The event was supported by a range of Showtec, Infinity and DMT products, carefully selected to create an immersive atmosphere that captivated the audience from start to finish.

For the Duikboot Area (Su

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03 June 2024

USA - Morgan Wallen's touring production for the One Night At A Time World 2024 Tour uses advanced lighting fixtures, coupled with a strategic layout, creating a captivating experience for audiences across the venue.

The substage measures an impressive 152ft in width and 72ft in depth, housing four key performance areas. Two of these areas, each approximately 48 by 48ft and elevated 12ft off the ground, allow for intimate moments that bring Morgan Wallen closer to the audience, including those seated to the sides.

Additionally, a 108ft-long thrust stage extends into the pit, ensuring Morgan’s presence is felt up close and personal by those in the front rows. Completing the setup is a ‘C’ stage, designed for acoustic sessions and positioned at the far opposite end of the audience, giving those fans the opportunity to get close as well. A dedicat

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31 May 2024

USA – The powerful trio of Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin and Pitbull went out on the road this spring for The Trilogy Tour – a series of concerts with two large diamond IMAG screens and a LED wall dominating the stage, which for Igelsias was driven by tvONE's Green Hippo brand of Hippotizer Media Servers.

The shows proved so successful in the last quarter of 2023 that 18 more shows were played around the US in 2024, with each artist performing with a striking identity conveyed through visuals and light. JMT Concepts has been working for Iglesias’s Ei Productions for more than a decade and was brought in by Iglesias as video director. JMT Concepts supplied two Hippotizer Boreal+ MK2 Media Servers to the tour, with one as main and one backup. The design and creative was realised by Travis Shirley, who also created the content for the show.

“Al

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29 May 2024

Germany - Q-SYS, a division of QSC, EMEA has announced the appointment of Chant Utukian as managing director, MEA.

Utukian joined the company in 2021 and has played a pivotal role in establishing the brand in the UAE and building a robust regional team.

“Chant’s strategic approach to managing distribution and business development has significantly increased sales revenue and expanded our market share in MEA,” says Markus Winkler, executive vice president, EMEA & APAC. “I look forward to seeing the region continuing to grow under Chant’s leadership.”

“This is an exciting time for Q-SYS as we transition to a hybrid business model in the GCC,” says Utukian. “I look forward to solidifying the Q-SYS brand in the region and further developing our team."

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29 May 2024

UK - London-based AV and IT integrator, Tateside has announced an ongoing project in collaboration with the MoneyGram Haas Formula 1 team. Tateside is set to support the F1 team’s digital signage requirements throughout the 2024 racing season. Having been introduced to the Haas team back in 2018, Tateside has provided installed solutions both within the team's factory in Banbury and trackside.

MoneyGram Haas F1 Team sought to rebuild and update their garage in 2023 and the team’s creative services manager, Peter Julian, enlisted Tateside to support the team in distributing its marketing visuals and live-streamed data across the garage.

“We were looking for a reliable solution for displaying content, such as sponsorship material or timing data, on the garage screens,” explains Julian. “Having known Tateside for several years, we trusted the

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29 May 2024

USA - DraftKings’ new Sportsbook facility has opened in Scottsdale, Arizona, featuring 3,400sq.ft of video walls driven by two tvONE CORIOmaster2 video processors. For the first time ever, two powerful CORIOmaster2 units are being ‘cascaded’ to offer DraftKings more inputs and outputs.

Constructed during 2023, the Scottsdale DraftKings Sportsbook is located adjacent to the 36-hole TPC Scottsdale golf complex. The modern building offers 13,000sq.ft of indoor space, which includes 32 betting kiosks, six windows to place bets, and wraparound LED screens, allowing customers to watch live sports action and related video from practically any seat or space.

Agility AVL’s Art Martinez and his team were engaged to specify and install a complete AV solution for the project, designing and delivering audio, LED, control, video processing and displays.

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24 May 2024

UK - Absen made its debut at the Media Production & Technology Show (MPTS), where the company showcased its innovative AbsenLive capabilities.

Absen demonstrated its extensive AbsenLive production technology with floor, wall, and ceiling installations, all of which suitable for rentals or permanent setups in live events, virtual production, and xR stages.

Exploring the AbsenLive product portfolio, Absen's stand featured a main screen that utilised the PR1.9, a virtual production specialist product.

A ceiling screen showcased the PR3.9, while the floor utilised the Mars series' MR2.5, suitable for live events and VP/xR. A side screen featuring the SA2.6 completed the immersive experience. In a dedicated demo area, attendees got the chance to get hands-on with Absen products.

Solutions from across the AbsenLive portfolio were on dis

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22 May 2024

UK - Distortion Studios, specialists in virtual production, recently opened the doors of its new Bristol-based studio, backed by an in-house team of immersive digital arts specialists. The space, home to a cutting-edge studio stage complete with the latest and most trusted virtual production technology, can be utilised by anyone looking to shoot virtual production content, as well as serving as a training and community hub.

 “At Distortion Studios, we want to play a part in upskilling the next generation of industry professionals locally,” remarks Nick Diacre, technical director at Distortion Studios. “So, we’re looking to invite technical people in and run training in the space, alongside the usual studio hire. Remaining technologically agnostic was therefore important to us.”  

Diacre first encountered SP by Stage Precision in the soft

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22 May 2024

Portugal - Event provider Europalco has once again leveraged Christie integrated solutions for a spectacular synchronised multi-projection display for the annual meeting of Millennium BCP, Portugal’s largest private bank, held at Lisbon’s Carlos Lopes Pavilion.

DCE Loving Brands agency organised and created the employee recognition-themed event, which was integrated into all levels of production for the approximately 1,600 people in attendance. Europalco provided a wide range of services, which included sound, lighting, video, cameras, automation, kinetic elements, stage set-up, and furniture.

A gigantic 60 x 8m main screen divided into three sections (each 20 x 8m) served as the focal point of the stage. Supported by 12 Christie 30,000 lumen, 4K 3DLP projectors, a Christie Spyder X80video processor, and Christie Pandoras Box Servers for show con

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17 May 2024

France - La Planète Rouge, a team of 3D and VFX set designers as well as colourists, set out to create The Next Stage. Housed within Provence Studios, the largest filmmaking infrastructure in southern France, it is situated in the heart of the French filmmaking industry near Marseille. The Next Stage has been designed to be ‘the ultimate in virtual production studios’, featuring a custom-made LED screen from French manufacturer, ArtBox, and is powered by Brompton LED video processing.

“We started with a blank sheet,” says La Planète Rouge’s Morgann Brun. “The infrastructure needed to be as immersive as possible because our aim was for production companies to be able to create content for feature films there.”

The result is a studio that features a U-shaped volume with an LED ceiling, plus a mobile set up. As Brun puts it, it is a Swis

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15 May 2024

UK - LED display brand Absen has announced the opening of its first UK showroom, in Theale, Berkshire, serving as a hub for Absen’s European operations.

The new showroom boasts Absen’s comprehensive range of solutions which cater to an array of markets, including rental & staging, virtual production, commercial, conference, DOOH, and data visualisation as well as providing essential office space for its team. The European hub also presents a display experience through its collaborations with ecosystem partners, including:

Designer and manufacturer of AV solutions, Peerless-AV providing essential bracket solutions specifically designed for the Clear Cobalt (CL) Series, which redefines LED capabilities for data visualisation. The showroom features groundbreaking collaborative displays like the CL0.9 v2 and NX 1.8 proAV solutions.

Intera

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14 May 2024

South Africa – Hit TV series The Masked Singer kicked off its second season in South Africa in April with 16 celebrities battling it out in flamboyant costumes to hide their identities. The production team ramped up the staging, lighting, and visuals for the 2024 contest using tvONE’s Green Hippo brand of Hippotizer Boreal+ MK2 Media Servers alongside a grandMA3 console to create epic projections and LED screen animations.

On stage, a 11m x 4m 2.9 pixel pitch Absen LED main wall backed each performer, displaying custom-made content designed in collaboration with The Masked Singer South Africa creative director Barry Pretorius, and set designer Michael Gill. In addition, there were two 2m x 4m LED walls for Unreal Engine 3D effects rigged behind two stage left and right mask-shaped surfaces, which were projection mapped using the Boreal+ MK2 via