A Look Around LDI 2009

I took just a little bit of video this year at the LDI show in Orlando Florida. Some of it was taken just for this, a quick look at some of the different things on the show floor. Of course there is a couple of things I missed, but then there are some things that were not on the show floor.  Can you find them? There is also a quick glimpse of a certain Bald Blogger too!

Clear-Com’s Two-Channel Tempest Wireless Intercom

Clear-Com, one of the leaders in intercom systems announced a new addition to their Tempest 2400 2.4Ghz wireless Intercom Family, the Tempest two-channel wireless intercom system.  While at LDI, I did not have a chance to stop by the Clear-Com booth and take a closer look at this, but here is more information from the press release Clear-Com sent out after the show.

As with all members of the Tempest family, the two-channel Tempest2400 utilizes a patented Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum RF scheme that not only avoids the need for licensing and frequency coordination, but makes it fundamentally resistant to interference from other wireless devices. This ensures that no matter how crowded the RF environment, communications will go off without a hitch.  In addition, once registered to a base station, a beltstation needs no further configuration and roams freely within a single coverage area.

Each Tempest2400 base station supports up to five full-duplex, two audio-channel digital wireless beltstations; by stacking up to 10 base stations together, 50 independent, full-duplex wireless beltstations can operate together in a single system. Other major features include state-of-the-art 2xTX Transmission Voice Data Redundancy and its interoperability with Clear-Com and other intercom systems through two-wire and four-wire connections.

Additionally, the iSelect™ roaming feature allows a beltstation user to move from one coverage area to the next by simply changing the beltstation’s association to another base station; each beltstation can be paired with up to 64 different base stations.  Each Tempest2400 wireless system includes T-Desk software, a powerful PC-based control and configuration application. T-Desk offers the ability to monitor and manage the entire wireless system from a remote location via Ethernet connection to a LAN.  A PC running T-Desk can also interface with a base station via direct connection over CAT-5 cable.

All members of the Tempest2400 family include an optional remote transceiver that allows remote antenna placement up to 1,500 feet (450 meters) from the base station; data connection and power supplied over standard CAT5e/6 cable with lightweight, fast-charging Lithium Polymer (Li-Poly) battery technology in the beltstation; access to one of six relay closures from the beltstation and vibrating call alert. In addition, a flexible battery solution allows beltstations to operate on standard AA batteries for emergency use; beltstation battery telemetry is displayed in real-time on the beltstation and base station LCDs, indicating how much power is left in each pack.

for more information on the Tempest two-channel intercom system, visit Clear-Com’s website at www.clearcom.com.

Lumens in the Air with LumenRadio

One of the newer products that I got a chance to play with at LDI this year that wasn’t an LED fixture was the LumenRadio system.  LumenRadio made it’s debut into the entertainment lighting industry at the PLASA show this year and took home PLASA’s 2009 Award for Innovation.

LumenRadio is a wireless system to send DMX information over a wireless network.  What is unique about Lumen Radio is that it is the first smart wireless system to automatically adapt to its surroundings.  Meaning, that the Lumen Radio system looks for open or un used space on a wireless bandwidth and takes advantage of that un used space to transmit and receive DMX singal.

LumenRadio launched uses a wireless technology called CRMX which stands for Cognitive Radio Multiplexer. CRMX was specifically developed to meet the demand for reliable, easy to use, and cost effective wireless lighting controls.

So what does Cognitive Coexistence mean for us?

Wireless DMX distribution systems operate on the same license free frequencies as W-LAN (WiFi), ZigBee, Bluetooth, some wireless intercoms, etc. Interference between such systems has been a growing problem in the industry with no available solution. CRMX is the first system to continuously scan the radio spectrum and dynamically adapt its frequency hopping patterns. This eliminates interference and maximizes performance of all radio systems in the same radio frequency sphere. In short, it’s a smart radio that adapts without having the user doing anything at all.

CRMX Nova features a number of unique features, such as:

• Automated Cognitive Coexistence. The unique CRMX technology makes sure that your wireless transmissions never disturb, or are disturbed by, other wireless equipment. This fully automated feature offers unrivaled convenience and peace of mind during operation.
• Fidelity. The DMX frame output is identical to the frame input. DMX frames will not be only half updated.
• Error correction. Advanced algorithms recreate corrupt or lost radio packets.
• Compliance. Non-compliant DMX signals are corrected to meet the DMX512-A standard.
• DMX synchronization. Precision timing mechanism guarantees synchronized frame delivery. The DMX frame will be outputted at all of the receivers synchronized. This ensures that no time differences occurs is the signals.
• Low latency. Industry best; below 5ms even in multi-universe systems.
• High security. Strong 128 bit encryption keeps hackers out.

LumenRadio has a number of products to transmit and receive signal all in various “sizes”.  You can go from a single universe of DMX on the CRMX Nova TX, to two universe with the CRMX Nova TX2 and finally the CRMX Nova TX2 RDM which transmits both DMX and RDM, (Remote Device Management).

What caught my attention at the LumenRadio booth was their SuperNova software. CRMX SuperNova is an RDM Controller that comes free of charge with LumenRadio’s CRMX Nova™ RDM products. CRMX SuperNova lets you set up, monitor and troubleshoot RDM systems. Once you have connected your devices, just run a discovery process that will find all your RDM enabled devices in the network. You can map your RDM transmitters and Recivers in an view similar to how you physically have them laid out and click on each of the devices to “identify” them as well as get vital information from them.

SuperNova also give you a graphically view of the full spectrum of wireless signal to see where open sections of the spectrum as well as limit which part of the spectrum to use or avoid. On the RDM side, you can quickly re-address a device any where on the DMX universe by simple clicking and dragging the device to it’s new address. The entire SuperNova software runs on Java and is able to work on any platform of computers.

For more infomation on the SuperNova Software or any of LumenRadio’s products, visit their website at www.lumenradio.com.

Philips/Color Kinetics Announces some New LED Fixtures at LDI

This year at LDI, Philips/Color Kinetics released quite a few new LED fixtures. The fixture pictured to the right is the ColorReach TR Powercore. Color Kinetics designed the fixture for the rigors of the rental and entertainment markets with high performance LEDs to create a powerful floodlight.

ColorReach TR Powercore offers over 5,000 lumens of output, light projection of over 500 feet, and the ability to natively generate millions of colors and dynamic effects without the need for maintenance-intensive colored gels, filters, or mechanical scrollers. New royal blue LEDs are standard with ColorReach TR Powercore to offer deeper, more saturated color projection in theatrical and touring projects.

The ColorReach TR Powercore offers a range of entertainment- and stage-specific features, including a lightweight yoke for mounting to pipes, trusses, and stands, and an optional accessory holder for freestanding installations. Available spread lenses, barndoors, top hats, egg crate louvers, and other accessories slide into the accessory holder for easy swapping. Optional 16-bit control provides ultra-smooth dimming. The six-channel fixture is also available with custom LED configurations in any combination of blue, royal blue, green, amber, red, and white LEDs in eight color temperatures.

For more information on Philips/Color Kinetics New ColorReach TR Powercore LED fixture, visit their website at www.colorkinetics.com.

Video: StageJunk’s Ratchet Ultimate Focus Tool

While down in Orlando, StageJunk announced the release of their latest Ultimate Tool, the Ratchet Ultimate Focus Tool.The new tool looks and feels just like the previous tool, the Ultimate Focus Tool, with one exception, the Ratchet.

StageJunk has taken the all aluminum tool and re-engineered the wrench portion of the tool to incorporate a fully ratcheting wrench. The tool still has the great features that we know and have come to love, such as the pin splitter, the continuity checker and of course, the ability to open a bottle of beverage.

Rob Junk, the owner and name sake of StageJunk took time out of quite busy booth at LDI to give me a quick run through of his latest tool, the Ratchet Ultimate Focus Tool.

Quick View of the Zero88 ORB Desk

I had a chance to stop by the Cooper Controls booth at the LDI booth and talk with Grant Bales-Smith, the Sales Manager for Zero88.  Grant gave me a quick overview of their latest lighting desk, the ORB consoles. The 2048 DMX control channels offered by the Orb allows users to control multiple LED fittings, intelligent lights or media servers controlling video, as well as the standard generic dimming systems common to theatres and television. All of these devices are programmed through intuitive user interfaces incorporating custom designed encoder wheels, multiple playback stacks, user definable keys and optional touch screens.

To learn more about the ORB console from Zero88, visit the ORB’s website at www.orbdesk.com.

Preview of Synthe FX Luminair 2.0

While walking around the show floor this past weekend, I got a chance to talk to Synthe FX about their up coming release of Luminair 2.0. The developer and owner of Synthe FX, Ryan Hisey gave me a quick run through and preview of the iPhone app lighting console, Luminair 2.0.

Synthe FX has been developing some great new features as well as adding some features that users have requested.  Here is a run down of some of the new things Luminair 2.0 will feature:

• Cue Stack playback with 5 different playback modes
• Full group support
• Cue image reference with CoverFlow browsing/triggering
• Support for WYSIWYG POV image/data
• Cut/Copy/Paste with tracks/groups/cues/stacks
• Accelerometer for X/Y controls

While at LDI, Ryan did a presentation on Luminair and has just made the PDF for the presentation avilable for download.  We can expect the new version of Luminair in the first quarter of 2010.  Additionally, current owners of version 1.5 will be able to download Luminair 2.0 for free as a software upgrade.

To learn more about Luminair, visit Synthe FX website at www.synthe-fx.com or visit the iTunes App store to purchase your copy and download it.

Rosco Introduces 12 New E-Color Gels

LDI brought some great an wonderful new technologies to life.  Leave it to Rosco to continue expanding on something that everything lighting person uses almost daily, the gel.  You may not know what Rosco’s E-color is, here is what Rosco says:

E-Colour is Rosco’s comprehensive system of European color filters for film and video production. E-Colour includes different filters and materials for color correction, color effects, diffusion and reflection. They’re manufactured with the latest dye formulations and bonding technology to assure the highest levels of reliability and performance.

The 12 new E-colors Rosco introduced are:

• 5084 – Damson Violet
• 5085 – French Lilac
• 5211 – Ice Blue
• 5264 – Venetian Blue
• 5287 – Fuji Blue
• 5336 – Wisteria
• 5454 – Olympia Green
• 5455 – Tarragon
• 5461 – Grotto Green
• 5463 – Prussian Green
• 5202 – Max Blue

To learn more about Rosco’s E-Color line up of gels and specifically the new gels they just released, visit Rosco’s website at www.rosco.com.

#LDI2009 and Week Long Celebration Comes to an End

The week of LDI, I re-launched iSquint with a totally new site design with more features and content as well as a week long celebration to thank you the readers. All week long, I was giving announcing noon time winners starting Monday through Friday and then a grand prize winner on Saturday. As things got a little busy covering the show floor Saturday,and then recovering from the weekend on Sunday, I did not have time to announce the grand prize winner from Saturday till now. The grand Prize winner from the week long celebration is David Henry!

David wins a Lee Master Edition Swatch book and an Apollo Design Designer Gel Book and other goodies from our Re-launch Sponsors.

A special thanks to everyone that left a note on the re-launch article as well as all of the re-launch sponsors.  iSquint.net wouldn’t be here with out you!

I mentioned back in the re-launch article that there was a special surprise for everyone. This coincides with the big announcement at the #LDI09tweetup. If you listened to the first edition of the iSquint Podcast, then you got a preview of the big surprise and announcement. Jimonlight introduced the person behind iSquint.net at the #LDI09tweetup, Justin Lang.

Why reveal who is behind iSquint.net?  It just felt like the time to do it. After a year or more of writing iSquint in the blind, it was time for everyone to know who is behind the site. Want to learn more about myself, read my bio here.

Thanks for reading iSquint.net!

Awesome Laser Video from #LDI2009 by @pkirkup

I just saw a great YouTube video from Peter Kirkup from Cooper Controls via @pkirkup about how lasers are coming back. If you were on the show floor, there was no way you could miss the laser effects going on over heard.  Peter put together a great video compilation with cut aways that are fantastic!

Great job Peter, you really brought back some great memories from the show floor!

More #LDI2009 Show Floor Pictures

While you wait for me to process all the information from this weekend at the 2009 LDI Show in Orlando Florida, I thought you might like to browse the over 200 photos I took over the weekend. I am still working on the videos and interviews from the weekend that will go up shortly.

It was a great time walking the show floor with our friend and fellow blogger, Mr. Jimonlight.  Together we saw an some amazing things that we are going to be covering in the Post Show Podcast that we did together. It was a great time to meet new and old friends on the show floor as well as the #LDI09tweetup on Saturday night. Thanks again to EVERYONE for all the great memories, I had a great time!

To view my photos from the weekend, visit my 2009 LDI Show Flickr set.

So Long, Good Bye #LDI2009, See you at #LDI2010

It is 4pm on the est and that means that the 2009 LDI Show Floor in Orlando Florida has come to a close. It has been an exciting three days with TONS of great things announced and shown off on the floor. I keep getting asked, what was your favorite new thing on the show floor.  Tough tough question, all of the things on the show floor were interesting, more some then others, but over all everything was pretty cool to see.

There is a lot to cover from to the show floor.  Prepare your eyes for some reading over the next week! Not only is there a lot to cover, I have so many photos and videos to put up, I might just be here a while.

Thanks for all the special memories everyone and of course, Live Design!