 |
|
Rental Source
|
|
 |
| Last 90 Days |
| |
| |
 07.02.08 Disco Fever Goes 21st Century With Acclaim X-Panel |
View>> |
Description:
LOS ANGELES – When the Disco Fever tour headlined by KC & the Sunshine Band made a recent stop at L.A.’s Greek Theater, thousands of disco fans of all ages turned out to “shake their booty.” But although the music may have been classic ’70s dance tunes, the lighting effects were over-the-edge 21st century, thanks to Acclaim Lighting’s X-Panel low-res LED screen system, which put on a high-tech display of colorful graphics on the wall behind the stage.
Lighting design/production company Stage-Tech (Santa Fe Springs, CA, www.stage-tech.com) used 36 X-Panel Frame Systems linked together to create the eye-popping video display. The X-Panel is a lightweight 8.3” square panel with 25 high-intensity RGB LEDs that can be used in multiples to produce video, graphics, text, animated cartoons, or any combination. Each X-Panel Frame System consists of a 3’ x 4’ flying frame with 12 X-Panels and an Acclaim X-PD-150 power supply pre-mounted to it.
According to Stage-Tech’s Joe Golden, the X-Panel system was “a big visual element” at the Disco Fever show, which was sponsored by local radio station 104.3 myFM. “With the X-Panel, we were able to put up something very quickly that was very customized,” said Golden. “The radio station gave us the artwork they wanted to see on the screen, and we simply converted it to the right format.” The X-Panel is controlled via Acclaim’s X-Soft software, and is compatible with more than ten major software formats, including JPEG, FLASH, MPEG, BMP and MOV.
In addition to graphics, the X-Panel screen was used to flash 104.3 myFM’s logo and other text messages to the audience. “(The X-Panel) allowed the radio station to do their own branding for the concert, easily and very cost-effectively. It didn’t require sending the logo out to an outside firm to have custom gobos made or anything like that, as you’d have to do with conventional lighting fixtures.
“The X-Panel also gives you the ability to create text messages on the fly,” Golden added. “It’s a very versatile system.”
Stage-Tech, which does lighting and production work for most local radio station-sponsored concerts produced by Live Nation, recently purchased the X-Panel Frame Systems to give its clients a cost-effective way to add customization and a high-impact visual element to their shows and events. Increasingly, local concerts and productions are seeking the same type of professional video effects as major national tours, noted Golden.
“We’ve got several clients that are very interested in using the X-Panel, because it offers them the ability to add something different at a relatively low cost,” he said. “From our standpoint, the X-Panel is very easy to work with – it’s a very quick setup compared to most video wall systems.”
The X-Panel is also very eco-friendly. Each energy-efficient 8.3” panel draws just 0.5A at 24V (12W). The entire system of 36 X-Panel Frames used at the Disco Fever show was powered of 2 x 20A 120V circuits. “LED lighting is really the wave of the future,” said Golden.
For more information, contact Acclaim Lighting at 323-317-9800 or visit www.acclaimlighting.com
Stage-Tech can be reached at 562-407-1133 or visit www.stage-tech.com
| | Date Posted: July 2 2008 |
|
|
| |
| 06.23.08 CHAUVET on Tour with Linkin Park and mxpx |
View>> |
| Description: PR: Daniel Creed
pr@chauvetlighting.com
954-929-1115 ext. 37
Hollywood, FL
CHAUVET on Tour with Linkin Park and mxpx
New York, NY- Lighting designer Joey Bradley was asked to provide a raised, illuminated platform, or ego riser, for the Spring Linkin Park and MXPX tour. For the custom-built unit, Bradley contacted Alban Sardzinski of See Factor Industry, who set out with his team to create something that was easy to set up and resilient enough for the touring industry. The team at See Factor designed an ego riser filled with 6 CHAUVET COLORado™ 1 units, which adhered to the specified guidelines of being compact, durable, and easy to set up.
“The pass-through power and data capability of the COLORado™ 1 allowed us to make a panel mount for power and data on the side of the box and link the units together internally,” said Sardzinski. The result was a “plug-and-play” design that allowed the units to be moved easily, quickly set-up and broken down, and run off of one power cable and a single data cable attached to the side of the riser.
The units were featured on multiple tour dates, and proved “durable enough to withstand the rigors of the road whether traveling by air, truck, or even in the bay of the bus,” said Sardzinski.
| | Date Posted: June 23 2008 |
|
|
| |
| 06.23.08 CHAUVET is pleased to announce the kick off of the 2008 Interstate Tour training sessions |
View>> |
Description:
|
CHAUVET is pleased to announce the kick off of the 2008 Interstate Tour training sessions. Starting in June, the lighting manufacturer takes new and flagship products on the road for a series of free 2-day seminars consisting of training, Q & A sessions and demonstrations led by Product Specialist Allan Reiss. A special emphasis is on LED fixtures geared toward the production market. Other topics include installation and trouble-shooting tips, LED applications and training in control software. Upon completion of the presentations, participants can earn a CHAUVET Product Training Certificate.
“This is a great opportunity for installers, specifiers, designers, architects and dealers to get hands on training and offer their direct feedback,” Product Manager Barry Abrams said.
Among the showcased products are the new COLORado Batten 80i LED bank system, the COLORado Panel LED wash, the Legend 6500 LED yoke, and exclusive, never-before-seen high-powered Scorpion lasers. Participants also preview emerging technologies and prototypes.
The sessions last from 9:00AM to 5:00PM. Complimentary lunch is provided. Online registration is at www.chauvetlighting.com.
|
|
Scheduled Tour Dates and Locations:
June 23-24: Atlantic City, NJ
June 26-27: New York, NY
July 14-15: Phoenix, AZ
July 17-18: Chicago, IL
August 18-19: Las Vegas, NV
August 21-22: Los Angeles, CA
September 15-16: Atlanta, GA
September 19: Online Webinar
|
| | Date Posted: June 23 2008 |
|
|
| |
| 06.16.08 Rugged Rainbow! Elation Introduces DLED 108IP Compact High-Output, Diecast IP-Rated LED Color Changer For Indoor or Outdoor Use |
View>> |
Description:
LOS ANGELES – Anywhere you take it, the new compact Design LED 108IP from Elation Professional will light up the environment with a rainbow of changing colors – even if that environment is outdoors and – yes – it’s actually raining!
A powerful LED RGB color-changing luminaire, the DLED 108IP is small in size but big in grit and toughness, built to withstand the rigors of outdoor use, with a robust IP-rating of IP65. Housed in a rugged diecast case, it’s completely protected against dust and precipitation, making it ideal for outdoor concerts, pavilions, amphitheaters, building exteriors and landscape lighting.
The DLED 108IP isn’t only tough, it’s also amazingly bright, which makes it just as well-suited for indoor applications where a powerful color changer is needed, such as nightclubs, theaters, arenas, runways, trade shows and exhibits. Equipped with 36 (12 each red, green and blue) 3W Luxeon K2 LEDs, it provides extremely high output and performance, especially for its diminutive size.
Featuring linear RGB color mixing, the DLED 108IP can produce an infinite array of colors, using a DMX controller. It also includes 6 built-in programs with speed control, which can be called up via DMX, as well as a variable speed strobe effect and 0-100% dimming with 2 dimming options – linear and standard. The unit can be operated in 3 DMX modes: 3-channel (RGB color mixing); 4-channel (RGB mixing plus dimming); and 6-channel (RGB mixing, dimming, strobing, built-in programs). Additionally, the DLED 108IP can be used without a controller in stand-alone manual mode and linked together in multiples Master-Slave.
Although its powerful brightness will be “seen” in any setting, the DLED 108IP will never be “heard,” thanks to its convection cooling system, which eliminates fans, for totally silent operation. It also features flicker-free operation, making it ideal for TV and film production use.
Wherever the versatile unit is used, its compact design will allow it to fit into even the tightest specifications, including in 12” box truss. It measures a mere 8.8”L x 8”W x 10.8”H and weighs just 15.2 lbs., so it’s easy to transport, too. Outfitted with a unique mounting bracket assembly, the DLED 108IP can be used in a variety of positions – standing on a flat surface, mounted on a wall, or hung on truss sideways or upside-down.
“The DLED 108IP’s IP65 outdoor rating, combined with its very powerful brightness and small size, make it an extremely versatile color changer that can be used just about anywhere – indoors, outdoors, or on the go,” said Eric Loader, director of sales for Elation Professional. “These same factors also make the DLED 108IP an ideal rental unit. It will provide an excellent return on investment, since it gives rental companies a compact, flexible color changer they can use to meet a variety of different customers’ lighting needs.”
Users will also appreciate the many time and money saving benefits associated with the DLED 108IP’s LED-powered lamps, such as energy efficiency and maintenance-free operation. Despite its bright output, the fixture draws only 150W of power, saving big on energy costs. Its long life Luxeon LEDs are rated at 100,000 hours, minimizing the time and expense of lamp replacement. Additionally, because LEDs generate virtually no heat, the DLED 108IP will help keep any environment, indoors or outdoors, at a cool, comfortable temperature.
The DLED 108IP comes with a special IP65-rated power cable, which like the unit itself, can withstand dust and wet conditions and is required for outdoor use. IP65-rated DMX cables are also required for outdoor applications and are available from Elation (sold separately).
A 25° beam angle comes standard with the unit. For added versatility, optional 15° and 45° lens kits are also available (sold separately). The MSRP of the Design LED 108IP is $1,799.95.
For more information, call Elation Professional toll-free at 866-245-6726 or visit www.elationlighting.com
###
 | | Date Posted: June 16 2008 |
|
|
| |
| 06.11.08 Elation's Opti RGB High Power LED Gets New Neutrik™ Connectors And cETL Approval |
View>> |
Description: Opti-mal Improvements!
Elation’s Opti RGB High Power LED Par Gets
New Neutrik™ Connectors And cETL Approval
LOS ANGELES –Elation Professional’s Opti RGB has always been a popular stage/production/theatrical light, thanks to its combination of high output, smooth LED RGB color-mixing, low heat emission and energy efficiency – and now it’s a more reliable performer than ever. That’s because the Opti RGB has switched to using higher-grade Neutrik™ 3-pin Data Connectors for DMX In/Out, improving the connection durability especially, when used by rental /production companies.
With the upgraded Neutrik connectors, lighting operators can be assured there will always be a strong, seamless flow of DMX data from their controller into the Opti RGB, and out from the fixture to other daisy-chained units, said Eric Loader, director of sales for Elation Professional. This will eliminate the possibility of breakage from heavy use, or of weak or interrupted DMX signals from the older XLR connectors, which can sometimes cause spotty performance.
“We wanted to improve the Opti RGB’s control connectivity, and we felt the best way to do this was to switch to Neutrik connectors, which are really tops in the market with their exceptional quality and reliability,” said Loader.
When it comes to ultra-reliability in an LED color changing fixture, users will also appreciate another major new development that occurred recently with the Opti RGB. The fixture has been awarded cETL approval, a recognized industry standard in both the U.S. and Canada, indicating that it meets the highest levels of quality and safety.
The prestigious cETL seal is awarded only after rigorous testing of a product and its manufacturing facility, noted Loader. He believes that the Opti RGB’s cETL status will further broaden the market for the already-popular color changer, allowing it to be used in more venues that require electrical compliance certification throughout North America.
“A growing number of facilities will only allow lighting products that are electrically certified and built to safety standards, because this ensures that the product is professionally built and completely safe to operate,” said Loader. “The Opti RGB now bears this distinctive seal of quality, so it can be used anywhere certification is mandatory. It will also be more attractive to rental companies, since it can go anywhere and the cETL label, a recognized equivalent to UL, will assure their customers of its safety and reliability. We are going for both UL and or cETL approvals on more and more products. ”
Available in two case models --- black (Opti RGB) or white (Opti RGB Wh) – the Opti RGB is ideal for a variety of applications where color is required: concerts, nightclubs, theaters, churches, productions, trade shows, exhibits and architectural interiors. Featuring 24 powerful 1W LEDs (8 each red, green and blue), it offers full RGB color mixing, allowing users to create an infinite spectrum of colors via DMX control, with 0-100% dimming capability.
Although powerful in output, the Opti RGB’s LED lamps are very energy efficient, drawing only 45W at full use. Another benefit of the LEDs is their long operating life, rated at 50,000 hours, which cuts down the time and expense of lamp replacement. Users will also appreciate the low heat generation of the Opti RGB’s LEDs, which keeps the temperature cooler and more comfortable on stage or in any environment.
Constructed of sturdy, high-impact aluminum that can stand up to travel, the Opti RGB is also compact and lightweight, making it great for concerts, productions, trade shows, rentals and other applications where portability is required. It measures 11.5” x 8.5” x 8.5” and weighs 11 lbs. An optional 45° lens kit (Opti RGB 45D Kit) and optional barn doors (Opti/BDB) are available (sold separately).
Despite the upgrade to higher-quality Neutrik DMX connectors, the prices of the Opti RGB and Opti RGB Wh have not been changed, making these high-output LED fixtures a better value than ever. Each model’s MSRP remains at $699.95.
For more information, contact Elation Professional toll-free at 866-245-6726. Fax: 323-582-3108. Address: 4295 Charter St., Los Angeles, CA 90058. Web: www.elationlighting.com
###
| | Date Posted: June 11 2008 |
|
|
| |
| 06.06.08 Elation Impression LED Moving Head Wins Live Design |
View>> |
Description: Elation’s Impression LED Moving Head Wins
Live Design “Lighting Product of the Year” Award
NEW YORK -- Elation Professional’s revolutionary Impression intelligent LED moving head fixture was chosen as a 2007-08 “Lighting Product of the Year” by Live Design magazine. The prestigious industry award was presented to Elation director of sales Eric Loader at an Excellence Awards reception held at XL LED Lab in the Soho district here on May 20.
An ultra-bright, fast-moving, compact fixture with an exceptional output-lumen-to-weight ratio, the Impression (available in both RGB and all-white versions) was the only product to win the award in the Luminaire category, and only one of four lighting products of any kind to receive Live Design Product of the Year awards. Winners were chosen by an independent panel of lighting designers and programmers, who, according to Live Design, were “nearly unanimous” in their selection of the Impression during the first round of voting.
“We are extremely honored that such a highly regarded industry force as Live Design singled out our Impression as their Luminaire Lighting Product of the Year,” said Loader. “The fact that this award was granted by designers and other professionals who work with lighting on a daily basis is a true testimonial to the Impression’s breakthrough technology and amazing performance.”
Calling the Impression a “slam-dunk for the judges,” Live Design noted that the panelists were impressed by the high output of the fixture, which is powered by 90 K2 Luxeon LEDs (comparable to 575W discharge), its speed (2-second pan and 1-second tilt), small size (16 lbs. and mountable on a 14” center), and low power draw. One judge described the Impression as having “way more output than I expected and almost as fast as a mirror head.” Another panelist hailed the Impression for providing a solution “when you need color and movement and don’t have much available weight or power – nicely packaged and perhaps. . . a glimpse of the future.”
Agreeing with this assessment, another judge summed it up: “I think the Impression gets (the award) because it finally starts to take LED technology into the fray of being a truly usable replacement. Impression is the wave of the future.”
The “future” may be already here -- a growing number of major concert tours and television productions are now using the Impression in their lighting rigs, said Loader. Among them are the recent R. Kelly, Jay-Z/Mary J. Blige and Bon Jovi tours, and WWE’s Raw, Smackdown and ECW weekly TV shows.
“Video and tour lighting designers are telling us that the Impression’s combination of high output, speed, instantaneous color changes, cool running temperature, light weight, low profile and energy savings offer them tremendous advantages,” said Loader. “Now that the Impression has won the Live Design Product of the Year award, it has received industry-wide recognition for these outstanding features.”
For more information, contact Elation Professional toll-free at 866-245-6726. Fax: 323-582-3108. Address: 4295 Charter St., Los Angeles, CA 90058. Web: www.elationlighting.com
| | Date Posted: June 6 2008 |
|
|
| |
| 05.22.08 Elation's Event Panel Shows True Colors at Remy Martin Cognac Premiere |
View>> |
Description: Elation’s Event Panel Shows True Colors At Remy Martin Cognac Premiere
LOS ANGELES -- The debut of an extraordinary cognac calls for an extraordinary event to dramatize its unveiling. Cognac maker Remy Martin rolled out just such theatrics for the American launch of the David LaChapelle limited-edition V.S.O.P., inviting more than 300 guests to a party at Smashbox Studios in West Hollywood, CA.
Stunning sensory effects filled an all-white room, which served as a neutral backdrop for a brilliant multicolor light show, produced by Leslie Short of K.I.M. Media (New York, www.kim-media.com) with lighting, audio, video and scenic projection services by ShowPro (Los Angeles, www.showpro.net ). Jim Gordon, Director of Marketing for ShowPro states, “Leslie had a vision on how she wanted to build the evening for the invited guests plus unveil and introduce the new cognac for Remy Martin. We really used many types of lighting and LED technology to provide many stunning looks throughout the evening.” ShowPro was picked to technically produce the event and support Leslie Short’s fantastic concept and vision because of their reputation for technically and creatively providing lighting and scenic projection for many such prestigious and high quality events.
The colors changed hourly to create a heightening sense of excitement, leading up to the cognac’s introduction. Beginning with a green palette to complement the canopy of palm trees at the jungle-themed entranceway, the colors shifted to blue, then dramatic red for the revelation of the bottle. Finally, the space burst into multi-color jeweltones for the after-party. Even the cocktail bars were translucent to allow colored light to shine through them.
The tricky task of under-lighting the translucent bars to make them change colors – one of the room’s most dazzling features – was accomplished with Elation Professional’s new Event Panel System, a color-mixing LED panel that can run remotely via its own rechargeable battery pack without being plugged into an electrical outlet. Equipped with 288 10mm red, green and blue LEDs, the Event Panel can produce a limitless array of colors through additive RGB mixing.
A total of 12 Event Panels were positioned behind the bar counters, where they lit the clear opaque fixtures from underneath. “The idea was to bring focus to the bars by having their fascias glow and change color throughout the evening,” said the event’s lighting designer Matt Levesque of firstcircle (Newport Beach, CA, www.firstcircledesign.com ).
The Event Panel was chosen for the job, because of its cordless battery-powered operation, Levesque explained. “Power cords around bartenders’ working areas can get a bit cumbersome and hazardous. These luminaires allowed us to achieve our desired effect without putting the equipment or bartenders at risk.”
Featuring a 40° beam angle, the Event Panel has an output distance of 65’-85’. It can run for at least 10 hours at full-power continuous use without being connected to a power source. The compact panel sits on top of a battery-pack base, and comes with a 12V power supply for recharging the battery. The panel itself measures just 16.7”L x 10.3”W x 3.2”H and weighs only 7.7 lbs. The battery pack base measures 11.7”L x 11.6”W x 4.6”H and weighs 19.5 lbs. In addition to operating via battery power, the Event Panel can be connected to an electrical source with an AC cable from 100-240v and used independently without the base. The energy-efficient LED unit draws only 36 watts of power, and its long-life LED lamps are rated at 100,000 hours.
With its compactness, battery-powered operation, and seamless RGB variable fade rate color mixing, the Event Panel is ideal for bringing color to hard-to-light spaces, agreed David Smith of ShowPro. “The Event Panels seem to be the perfect solution for an event scenic designer who has to under-light tables/bars etc.,” said Smith.
In addition to the Event Panel, another Elation fixture, the Power Spot 700 CMY-II – a 700W CMY color mixing DMX moving head – played a key role in welcoming the new Remy Martin V.S.O.P. Twenty-four Power Spot 700s filled the space with beams and gobo patterns that coordinated with the color themes produced by the LEDs. “The lighting, in general, served as our tool to transform the atmosphere from the initial mood of an evening cocktail party, to a theatrical stage performance, and finally to a hot night club,” said Levesque. “The (Power Spot 700 CMY-II’s) unlimited colors allowed us to create the three different tasks requested by our client: Cocktail Party, Performances and Night Club.” The event environment was constantly changing, had a real defined flow to it and was very impactful and dramatic. A huge success for all involved!
For more information, contact Elation Professional at 866-245-6726 (toll-free) or 323-582-3322. Fax: 323-582-3108. Address: 4295 Charter St., Los Angeles, CA 90058. Web: www.elationlighting.com Email: info@elationlighting.com
| | Date Posted: May 22 2008 |
|
|
| |
| 05.14.08 Bukovinsky Hurt In Motorcycle Accident, Benefit Fund Established |
View>> |
| Description: North Creek, NY – May 14, 2008 - Wayne "Wayno"
Bukovinsky was critically injured in a motorcycle accident on April 19, 2008.
According to the Glens Falls Post Star, the accident occurred on Golf Course
Road in Warrensburg, NY. Bukovinsky is unconscious and recovering at
Albany Medical Center in Albany, NY.
Bukovinsky is an active member of the entertainment touring industry. He has
worked with Creative Stage Lighting for over 15 years. He recently was
lighting crew chief on Jill Scott’s "The Real Thing" tour and Meat Loaf’s "Bat
Out of Hell III" tour. Bukovinsky also served as a lighting technician with
Maroon 5. He is a contributor to his community as a volunteer fireman in
North River, NY.
Stephen Studnicky, Industrial Sales Manager at Creative Stage Lighting, has
established a recovery fund for Bukovinsky. Contributions can be made to:
Wayne M. Bukovinsky Benefit Fund
C/O Steve Studnicky
287 Bird Pond Rd.
North Creek, NY 12853
Checks should be made payable to “Wayne M. Bukovinsky Benefit Fund.”
| | Date Posted: May 14 2008 |
|
|
| |
| 05.09.08 Brilliant Words! Put Your Message In Lights With American DJ’s Text-Generating LED Messenger Effect |
View>> |
Description: LOS ANGELES – Getting across your “message” at clubs, parties, and weddings just got easier, thanks to American DJ’s unique new LED Messenger. A portable LED-powered moonflower effect, the LED Messenger projects glittering text messages – such as “Happy Birthday” and “Happy New Year” -- across the walls, ceiling or dance floor in brilliant red, green and blue lights.
A dramatic addition to any special occasion, the LED Messenger comes equipped with 10 pre-programmed messages, making it ready for use right out of the box. It is also fully programmable for customized greetings – just plug a PS2-type computer keyboard into the unit and type a message of up to 30 characters. The 192 high-output LED’s (72 red, 48 green, 72 blue) will spell out your words, allowing you to project a personalized message at any gathering, such as the bride and groom’s names at a wedding or a tribute to the guest of honor at a banquet.
An extremely versatile effect, the LED Messenger not only projects text graphics, it can also function as a high-output moonflower effect. This versatility makes it ideal for DJs and clubs with limited budgets and space, giving them two effects in one! As a moonflower, it can be operated with a DMX controller or simply plugged in and run in Sound Active mode to its own built-in programs. It is also linkable to other units for Master-Slave operation in multiples.
“With the LED Messenger’s dazzling and customizable text graphics, DJs and emcees can give any event - parties, weddings, corporate banquets – the feel of a Hollywood premiere,” said Scott Davies, General Manager of the American DJ Group of Companies. “Since it also acts as a single moonflower effect, this very unique fixture can be used as a standard club or dance floor light, too. What’s more, users also get all the benefits of LED-powered lighting, which is a rapidly growing trend in DJ/club effects.”
Among these benefits are LED lamps’ extremely low power consumption. The LED Messenger is equivalent in output to a 400W halogen light, based on side-by-side visual comparison, yet it draws only 55W of power. This saves on energy costs and allows more units to be hooked up on a single electrical circuit. LEDs also run cooler than traditional halogen bulbs, keeping the temperature more comfortable on the dance floor, and allowing the dazzling light show to run all night without shutting down for duty cycles. The lower operating temperature also allows mobile entertainers to pack up their lights more quickly at the end of the evening, without having to wait for them to cool down.
Additionally, the LED Messenger’s LED lamps have an extremely long life, rated at 100,000 hours, which virtually eliminates the expense and hassle of lamp replacement. This, combined with the LED Messenger’s rugged housing and lack of moving parts, makes the unit virtually maintenance-free, giving users years of bright, beautiful lighting effects in rich, saturated colors that do not fade and do not require a fog machine to appear brilliant to the eye!
The LED Messenger features 3 DMX channels, a 4-button LED DMX display menu, manual light source adjustment from the outside, and a PS2 type keyboard input on the rear for typing in custom text (keyboard not included). An optional wireless remote controller is also available (sold separately).
Compact and portable, the LED Messenger measures 12.75”L x 9”W x 9”H and weighs 15 lbs. It features multi-voltage operation (120-240V, 50/60Hz) and comes with mounting brackets, for “set up and show” convenience.
The MSRP of the LED Messenger is $439.95.
For more information, contact American DJ at 1-800-322-6337 or visit www.americandj.com. Email: info@americandj.com.
###
| | Date Posted: May 9 2008 |
|
|
| |
| 05.05.08 Elation’s Impression Hustles and Flows with Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige |
View>> |
Description:
LOS ANGELES – Pairing hip-hop’s leading man with the reigning queen of R&B has given rise to one of 2008’s hottest live music events -- Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige’s “Heart of the City” tour. Winning rave reviews from fans and critics alike, this potent urban-music coupling has been a huge box office success, raking in more than $9 million after only its first eight dates.
With the two co-headliners sharing a stage set and teaming up for some numbers such as an opening duet of Jay-Z’s “Can’t Knock the Hustle,” then going on to perform solo with their individual bands, the show’s lighting fixtures had to be extremely versatile. The lighting had to accommodate both Blige’s “softer, more feminine” show and Jay-Z’s performance, which “is very hard-hitting and masculine,” said Patrick Dierson of Artfag, LLC (www.artfag.tv ), the tour’s Lighting Director.
“They are two very high-profile artists, and the dynamic of her show versus his is a bit different,” Dierson elaborated. “Her show is a lot softer, although it still has a lot of accents and pushes because she’s a strong performer. With Mary J.’s use of the lighting, things tend to ramp up and ramp down, whereas with Jay-Z’s, things tend to snap on and snap off – big, hard-hitting stuff.”
“Heart of the City” required lighting that, like the two urban-rooted music genres it illuminated, could go off in different directions while emanating from a single source. Dierson and Artfag’s Justin Collie, who served as the tour’s Performance Environment Designer, found this versatility – along with many other advantages -- in Elation Professional’s Impression LED intelligent moving head color wash fixture.
Equipped with 90 high-power Luxeon K2 LEDs, the Impression boasts an output comparable to a 575W discharge fixture – at a 50% energy savings --while being amazingly lightweight and compact (just 16 lbs. and mountable on a 14” center in any position). Its 30 red, 30 green and 30 blue LEDs can provide an infinite palette of colors via RGB additive mixing, along with smooth, quick color fades. This petite powerhouse also has great speed, capable of panning 660° in under 2 seconds. It offers low heat production and long-life operation with 100,000-hour-rated lamps.
Twenty-four Impressions were hung in a row on an upstage curved truss, above a scenic catwalk, where they are used to light the band members, as well as for accents and hits throughout the show. “One of the things we like about the unit is that even though it’s a very digital light, it is capable of being somewhat soft,” said Dierson. “You can coax it into doing whatever you want. Because its response time can be very instantaneous, you can do hard snaps, or it can be very soft and smooth. This flexibility makes it ideal for a show with two headliners.”
The versatility of the Impression allowed it to be used for multiple purposes within Jay-Z and Blige’s performances. In addition to stage lighting and effects, it illuminates the catwalk, which is used as an entrance/exit for performers, who are brought up and down via a lift. “We use the Impressions to do a top highlight of the catwalk, which is a very sectioned-off area. It’s a nice unit for this purpose because of the great controllability of the beam -- it doesn’t spill onto our video screen, which is very close,” explained Dierson.
Weight is another feature that made the Impression ideal for use above the catwalk. “We were looking for a proper unit for that particular truss, which also holds our followspots for near positions and some kabuki drops for scenic elements, so weight was definitely a factor,” Dierson said. “The Impressions are so lightweight, we could add them onto the truss without overloading it. Plus when we swung the units around they weren’t going to shake the truss.”
The Impressions have also impressed with their high output and brightness, added Dierson. “Everyone who comes in and sees them is blown away by them. Then there’s the energy saving. On top of everything else, this type of light is much better for the environment.”
For more information, contact Elation Professional at (866) 245-6726, or visit www.elationlighting.com.
Artfag, LLC’s website address is www.artfag.tv
| | Date Posted: May 5 2008 |
|
|
| |
| 05.02.08 The Chauvet DMX D-Fi 2.0 is CHAUVET’s newest released product |
View>> |
| Description: PR: Daniel Creed
pr@chauvetlighting.com
954-929-1115 ext. 37
Hollywood, FL
CHAUVET DMX D-Fi 2.0: Go wireless
The CHAUVET DMX D-Fi 2.0 upgrades the wireless DMX technology that has been in use for just over a year. By utilizing two DMX D-Fi units, programmers can eliminate long cable runs over distances as far as 120 meters.
Version 2.0 of the D-Fi features more assignable frequencies, allowing users to run up to 6 separate universes inside one venue, and allowing for additional options when experiencing difficulties in transmission due to signal interference. Multiple units can also be assigned to a single frequency in order to split a signal or cross a vast expanse that would otherwise require long cable runs.
The D-Fi features LED indicators for operating mode (transmitter or receiver), frequency, and DMX signal transmission, key-hole slots for discrete wall mounting, and frequency indicator lights.
| | Date Posted: May 2 2008 |
|
|
| |
| 04.30.08 A Star is Born! Elation Unveils ELED Tri-64B Par Can With Revolutionary Tri-Color RGB LED Technology |
View>> |
Description: Advanced 3-LEDs-in-1 Design Eliminates 3-Color Shadows, Improves Color Mixing
LOS ANGELES – Par cans have come a long way from their color-gel roots; today’s LED-powered models allow you to create millions of colors through additive RGB mixing using a DMX controller. Now Elation Professional is taking the LED par can revolution even further into the future with the ELED Tri-64B Par Can, an advanced DMX-compatible stage light built with the company’s exclusive tri-color RGB LED technology for superior color mixing and multi-color shadow-free performance.
The ELED Tri-64B is equipped with 18 LEDs. However, instead of each LED being a single-color, the innovative tri-color technology makes it possible for all of the unit’s 18 lenses to contain a combination of 3 different-colored 1-watt LEDs – red, green and blue.
This tri-color grouping of red, green and blue lamps provides tremendous advantages over single-color LEDs. For starters, it eliminates the annoying multi-color shadows that LED fixtures commonly produce on illuminated surfaces. And, because each of the 18 tri-color LEDs remains “on” at all times, regardless of which color is being produced, the ELED Tri-64B mixes colors more smoothly than traditional RGB LED par cans. It also produces a much brighter, more even field of light, for better illumination of stages, performers, displays and exhibits, comparable color-to-color to a 500W Par 64 Can -- but at 1/7 the power consumption at full output, and with all the other well-known LED advantages.
“We developed tri-color technology in response to users’ demands for improved color-mixing and the elimination of the red, green and blue shadows that you often get with RGB LED fixtures,” said Eric Loader, director of sales for Elation Professional. “The ELED Tri-64B mixes colors much more smoothly and evenly than an ordinary LED par can with one-color LEDs. This is because, no matter what color you’re mixing, each of its 18 light sources remains on. If you were mixing, say, magenta, on a fixture with single-color LEDs, only the red and blue LEDs would be turned on. But with the Tri-64B, all 18 LEDs can run continuously, and you see the magenta color created in each lens. The result is a more ‘blended,’ even-toned mixed color.”
The tri-color technology also somewhat “magically” creates a better range of white colors, added Loader. Thus, the ELED Tri-64B does not contain any white or amber LEDs, which can limit primary color output. This contributes to the fixture’s enhanced brightness and clarity.
Great for stages, concerts, displays and exhibits, the ELED Tri-64B generates virtually no heat, and it is extremely energy efficient, drawing only 70 watts of power. Another advantage of its LED lamps is their long life, rated at 50,000 hours.
Featuring flicker-free operation, the ELED Tri-64B is also ideal for video production use. It can produce a virtually infinite range of colors and includes 0-100% electronic dimming and strobing. Additionally, it comes equipped with 6 built-in programs and 35 color macros.
The ELED Tri-64B has 6 DMX modes: 1 Channel mode, 2 Channel mode, 3 Channel mode, 4 Channel mode, 6 Channel mode, and a 7 Channel mode, giving users control over RGB color mixing, macros, dimming and strobing. It can also be operated without a controller in 3 additional modes: Sound Active Mode, chasing to its built-in programs; Macro Mode (any selected color macro); or Auto Mode (any selected program). Multiple units can be linked together Master-Slave via XLR data cable, and the unit also offers 5 and 3-pin DMX connections.
The size of a Par 64 can, the ELED Tri-64B measures 18.5”L x 10.75”W x 10”H, and weighs 9 lbs. Its lenses have a 25° angle. The MSRP of the ELED Tri-64B is $999.95.
For more information, call Elation Professional toll-free at 866-245-6726 or visit www.elationlighting.com
###
 | | Date Posted: April 30 2008 |
|
|
| |
| 04.25.08 Elation Unveils Event Panel System |
View>> |
Description: Elation Unveils Event Panel System
Revolutionary Battery-Powered RGB LED Color Panel
LOS ANGELES – Now you can take your LED colors with you. …anywhere you go,  whether you’re stepping outdoors, riding in a vehicle or flying into outer space. Elation Professional’s amazing new Event Panel System is a revolutionary RGB LED color changing panel that comes with its own battery pack, so it can “power on” wherever you take it, even in places where there’s no electricity available.
Equipped with 288 high-output 10mm LEDs (48 red, 120 green, 120 blue), the Event Panel System is ideal for adding brilliant colors to special events and banquets, as well as tricky indoor spaces where electrical outlets are scarce, such as hallways, entry ways and moving scenery. The unique long-life battery-powered panel also provides an easy way to light up trade show exhibits, runways and retail displays, since you don’t have to worry about connecting to a power source for at least 10 hours of full-power continuous use. Rental companies, too, will benefit from the Event Panel System, since they’ll be able to offer their customers a totally portable, easy-setup RGB color fixture for applications where it previously would have been difficult – or impractical --to use one.
Not only is the Event Panel System a perfect fit for hard-to-light spaces, it’s also got an array of features that will fit a variety of needs. It includes 14 built-in programs, a variable strobe effect (1-18 flashes per second) 0-100% dimming, and seamless RGB variable fade rate color mixing. Featuring flicker-free operation, it’s also ideal for illuminating video and film production sets.
The panel can be controlled remotely from up to 30’ away, using Elation’s ELAR WR Wireless Infrared Controller, which comes included with the Event Panel System. The ELAR WR Remote gives operators control over the built-in programs, strobing, blackout and RGB mixing, and the IR receiver on the panel itself can be placed by the user into the proper position manually.
As another option, the Event Panel System can be operated with a standard DMX-512 controller, giving users flexibility to create their own programs and conjure up an infinite palette of colors. The panel can be operated in 2, 3, 4, 7, 14 or 26 DMX channel modes to meet varying user needs. The versatile panel can also be run as a stand-alone unit without a controller in four different modes: Auto Run, which automatically chases through the 14 built-in programs; Programs Mode, which lets you select a program and adjust its different features such as speed and fade time; Sound Active Mode, which chases through the built-in programs to the beat of the music; and Master-Slave, which allows multiple units to be linked and synched together via built-in XLR connectors.
Featuring a 40° beam angle, the Event Panel System has an impressive output distance of 65-85 feet (20-25 meters). The compact color panel sits on top of a base, which holds its rechargeable battery, and attaches easily via two quarter turn locks. A12V power supply to recharge the battery is included with the system.
In addition to operating via battery power, the Event Panel System can be connected to an electrical source with an AC cable from 100-240v and can be used independently without the base. Featuring the energy efficiency of LED lighting, it draws only 36 watts of power. Another advantage of its LED lamps is their long life – rated at 100,000 hours.
For a fixture with its features and brightness, the Event Panel System is remarkably compact and lightweight, making it easy to use on the go. The color panel itself weighs only 7.7 lbs and measures 16.7" L x 10.3" W x 3.2" H. The battery pack base weighs 19.5 lbs. and measures 11.7" L x 11.6" W x 4.6" H.
“The Event Panel System makes RGB LED lighting totally portable,” said Eric Loader, director of sales for Elation Professional. “This battery-powered, go-anywhere system will make it possible to have ultra-bright color mix effects in a whole range of new applications where electricity isn’t readily available.”
Rated at IP20, the Event Panel System is not intended for permanent outdoor installation, extended outdoor use, or operation in rain or inclement weather.
The MSRP of the Event Panel System, including the Panel, Battery Base, and ELAR WR Wireless Infrared Remote Controller, is $1,099.95.
For more information, contact Elation Professional toll-free at 866-245-6726. Fax: 323-582-3108. Address: 4295 Charter St., Los Angeles, CA 90058. Web: www.elationlighting.com
| | Date Posted: April 25 2008 |
|
|
| |
| 04.14.08 Live Technologies Presents OPEN HOUSE!!! |
View>> |
| Description: PLANNING A CORPORATE MEETING, GALA, CONCERT OR SPECTACULAR EVENT?
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A SOPHISTICATED AUDIO, LIGHTING AND VIDEO SYSTEM FOR YOUR BOARDROOM, TRAINING FACILITY, CHURCH OR AUDITORIUM?
LEARN WHAT THE REAL LIVE PROS DO AT LIVE! TECHNOLOGIES.
JOIN US FOR OUR OPEN HOUSE ON FRIDAY, MAY 9TH, 2008
FROM 3PM TO 7PM AT 3854 FISHER RD. COLUMBUS, OHIO
Our professionals will guide you through the latest in audio and visual technology, while our designers and artists will inspire you with sensational demonstrations of light, video and sound.
Enjoy gourmet appetizers and live music from our mobile stagevan!
Be a rock star! Take a turn on our larger than life Guitar Hero and enter to win a Wii!
TO RSVP CLICK HERE
FOR MORE INFORMATION: CALL 614-278-7777 OR EMAIL: INFO@LIVETECHNOLOGIESINC.COM
| | Date Posted: April 14 2008 |
|
|
| |
| 04.11.08 WWE Goes HD With Elation |
View>> |
Description:
LOS ANGELES -- Fans of WWE wrestling can now see the action and excitement in the ring more clearly than ever. . .right down to the serial numbers on John Cena’s dog tags! After five years of planning and $20 million, WWE has made the leap to high-definition TV for its three weekly shows – Raw (USA Network), Smackdown (CW Network) and ECW (Sci-Fi).
The move to HD required a complete upgrade of WWE’s production set so that viewers could experience the full sharpness, crystal clarity and high-octane visuals of high-definition technology. In fact, WWE has actually pioneered a whole new groundbreaking concept in sports entertainment – building an entire set out of HD video screens! The all-video set can “change to be anything we want it to be,” explained WWE production designer Jason Robinson, allowing totally different “sets” to be created for different superstars, rather than having one stagnant design.
Switching to more powerful and colorful lighting elements was a key part of the transformation to HD, said Robinson. “With the entire set morphing into a complete video set, I wanted everything involved with the lighting to be speedier, including the color changes. If the video changed, I wanted the colors to change, all at one time on one cue,” said Robinson.
To keep up with these rapid, dynamic changes, Robinson specified 22 Impression LED moving heads from Elation Professional, hung 40’ above the main stage. The Impressions, which were supplied by Bandit Lites, provide the stage wash and entrance effects, replacing the conventional moving head CMY lights that had been used on WWE’s previous standard-definition set.
“Moving lights with color flags just don’t have the crisp speed of color change,” said Robinson. “My choice of the Impression LEDs was based on their instantaneous color change, so that when the hi-def cameras caught the set, you didn’t have the normal lag that you’d get with a fixture that had flags.”
WWE’s entire lighting crew has been impressed by the rapid-fire color changes of the Impressions, said Robinson, as well as the speed of the moving head itself, which can reach 660° pan in 2 seconds and 300° tilt in 1 second. Additionally, he says, the Impressions have “kept up beautifully in intensity” with conventional moving head washes, showing remarkable brightness even at 40’ trim height.
Equipped with 90 high-performance K2 Luxeon LEDs (30 each red, green and blue), the Impression delivers an output comparable to a 575W discharge fixture at a 50% energy savings. Amazingly compact, it is small enough to be mounted on a 14” center and weighs only 16 lbs. – another benefit, according to Robinson. “The Impression is such a fast fixture to put up. You no longer have a big, heavy light that two stagehands have to struggle with. It’s also very versatile in its placement – just one clamp and they’ll hang in any direction.”
In addition to the Impression, WWE is using other LED products from Elation and its sister company American DJ on the new HD set. A total of 40 Alkalite PZ 720A color-changing LED panels from Elation are being flown vertical along each side of the main video screen and on the front edge of each side of the stage. Here again, said Robinson, “I needed the speed of color changing and wanted something that was low-res to offset all the higher resolution video boards on the set. The PZ 720A panels at times steal the show. The video screen is a 16:9 aspect ratio fed by hi-def projectors. So visually the LED panels lengthen it out and make it look like you’re seeing a really huge HD television.”
Eight Elation Design LED 36 color changers are used as truss toners in the entranceway to the stage, while 18 P36 LED blinders from American DJ provide uplighting from underneath the ramp that the wrestlers walk down.
Robinson even found a trussing solution from another Elation sibling, Global Truss, for the set of a new interview segment on Raw, conducted from the main ring. A 42” HD LCD screen, used on the set, is now being hung on one of Global Truss’s lightweight DJ trussing systems. “We were looking for small, lightweight trussing that we could hang the plasma screen from to achieve a more professional look on the set. We needed something we could put up and take down during a commercial break. Global’s DJ truss was perfect,” said Robinson. “We even got a pump stand and truss bag from them. For our purposes, the truss was a fantastic set element and a real visual improvement.”
For more information, call Elation Professional toll-free at 866-245-6726 or visit www.elationlighting.com Production/lighting designer Jason Robinson can be reached at 865-607-3171 or visit his website www.jasonrobinsondesign.com.
| | Date Posted: April 11 2008 |
|
|
| |
| 04.10.08 CHAUVET élan wins 2008 Club World Award for Best Effect |
View>> |
| Description: CHAUVET élan wins 2008 Club World Award for Best Effect
The CHAUVET élan received the Club World Award for Best Effect at a ceremony held at Set nightclub in Miami, Florida March 26th, 2008. Each March the Club World awards honor the clubbing world’s best from the previous year. Editorial staffers of Club World magazine select nominees from an online submission pool and a panel of industry experts votes for the winners.
“This means a lot to our entire team at CHAUVET, not only in terms of recognizing the performance and value present in the élan, but also validating the innovative design of the unit,” said Product Manager Barry Abrams who, along with National Sales Manager Bob Laino, accepted the award at the ceremony.
With 224 LEDs (in red, green, and blue) working together to produce a beam angle of over 70 degrees, the élan creates rotating and crisscrossing beams that produce mid-air beam effects and wall projections. The fixture can be controlled through sound-activation, dipswitches located on the rear of the unit, or through 4-channels of DMX.
Two other CHAUVET LED fixtures, the COLORado 3 washlight and the MiN Spot were also nominated for an award this year in the respective categories of Best Lighting Product and Best LED Product.
“The lighting community is transitioning to solid-state lighting products, and we at CHAUVET are proud to offer products like the élan,” said CEO Albert Chauvet, adding that the company’s LED products, “serve as examples of where the technology is at now, and as catalysts for future development."
| | Date Posted: April 10 2008 |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
