The Black Tank Introduces the BrickBlaster PRO LED Fixture

This is a perfect example of how big tradeshows are and how much I miss due to that fact.  A month after LDI, I have been turned on to a new LED fixture that was introduced at the show, the BrickBlaster Pro from The Black Tank.

There are two versions of the BrickBlaster Pro, the RGBW and the Warm/Cool White fixture.  The first thing that stuck me about the fixtures is the ability to transfer the LED boards between fixtures!  Say you need more RGBW fixtures, change out the Warm/Cool White LED board on a fixture, and change it to an RGBW LED board. How cool is that?!

One BrickBlaster is 4″ cubed and draws just 50 watts of power, put puts out 1200 lumens per “brick”. Using latest Rebel LED technology and an innovative, patent pending, management system, it is capable of outputting 1200 Lumens cool while doing it.

The BRICKBLASTER PRO can be controlled using two universes of full speed 8 or 16 bit DMX512 or by selecting internal preprogrammed effects using the rear mounted LCD panel. A fixture set in Manual or Color Wash mode will output DMX allowing for multi-light synchronization. These options make the BRICKBLASTER PRO ideal for users with or without an external control source. Additional features include, automatic thermal shut down, flicker-free operation, low noise fan, 120VAC Neutrik Powercon Input, 5-Pin DMX connections, LCD control panel with intuitive user interface, three user selectable tungsten dimming curves and many more.

This BRICKBLASTER PRO is designed to allow for field replacement of key components including the LED module, power supply, control board and fan. The fixture is sold individually or in custom ruggedized, watertight road cases in two or eight pack bundles. To fit all applications, the BRICKBLASTER PRO also comes standard with three different holographic light shaping diffusing films: 20, 40 and 60 degree are included with each light.

I highly recommend jumping over to The Black Tank’s website, www.theblacktank.com, and checking out the 2 minute video about the BrickBlaster fixtures.  While there, learn more about the fixtures and how to pick one up.

GLP Ignition Truss Toner System

GLP or German Light Products debuted a new truss toner system at LDI this year.

It has quite a few things going for it- relatively light weight, 5 pin data and Powercon pass through, great color rendering, and pretty bright based on the number of LEDs it has. Oh, can’t forget that it’s RDM compliant.

There are removable wings on the sides so the unit can sit snuggly at the base of an upright truss or used to secure it in a flown truss. And see those corners? They fit just on the inside of the truss bolts.

According to the rep on the floor that I spoke to there is only a 12 square truss model but plans for larger and irregular sizes are in the works. At time of writing there is still nothing on their website, and no price was mentioned.

GripLock – Hang With Peace of Mind

One of the neat things that I had a chance to play with at LDI had to be one of the simplest products on display, the rigging hardware from GripLock.  GripLock has been around for some time now but I have only recently been turned on to their products.

Think about this.  When rigging a hanging point, you would need to correctly measure and crimp your cable for you desired height.  There is some guess work and a whole bunch of math involved in that.

GripLock Systems has done away with the guess work. Rig your cable from the ceiling and run your cable down and then use there wide assortment of grippers to quickly and easily set you trim height with almost any type of connection you need.

Here’s how it works:

• Insert the cable into the plunger and slide the gripper to the desired position. Where it stops it locks®
• To re-adjust, simply depress the plunger with your fingertip and move the gripper to a new position. Release the plunger to lock.

The 3- or 6-ball gripping mechanism is spring-loaded and allows the gripper to move freely up the cable. It cannot move down unless the plunger is depressed.

While there is any weight at all on the gripper, the plunger cannot be depressed. An optional “safety nut” or “safety cap” can be added to completely lock the mechanism in both directions. The Greater The Weight, The Stronger It Grips.

After stopping by the GripLock booth, walking around the show floor, I noticed that a number of exhibitors had been using the GripLock products to help demonstrate their own products.  Check out GripLock and their entire product line.  There is some neat stuff there!

Side note: While at the GripLock booth, they gave me a couple key chain samples.  I have two to give away.  The first two to email me at info@isquint.net wins.  Just put in the subject line, “I heart GripLock”.

United Visual Artists D3

Visual media has become more and more a standard over the past few years. As more and more shows and installs are asking for media, companies are now providing more ways to serve it. One of the coolest systems I saw at #LDI2010 was the d3 by United Visual Artists. It’s been around for a little while but is only now making a [huge] splash here in the states by being debuted on the U2 360 Tour. You see that giant bird nest thingy over the stage? Thats being driven by  d3.

At first glance d3 is a bit intimidating- timeline based editing, built in real time visualizer and the capability to drive an entire visual rig including lighting. It can play media at a full 1080p resolution and spit it back out to one of four DVI outputs at a max resolution fo 1920×1200. It’ll play most of the current video formats, so no need to worry about re-rendering content. Send it live feeds on 2 HD SDI or 4 SD SDI inputs.

Being visual, you of course want to see what you’re creating in real time and the built in visualizer doesn’t lack in that department. It can import complex 3D objects, simulate camera movements, and even let you build complete pixel maps. Future updates will allow for full projection masking and spherical mapping.

Control is very well thought out as well. You can run right from the d3, have multiple devices setup in a master / slave system to Art-Net, MIDI, and MIDI timecode.

UVA really want’s you to use d3. So much so that (until further notice) when you buy a new system they will train you for free.

I want one.

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Hidden Up Osrams Sleeves at LDI 2010

Nothing was really hidden up Osrams sleeves at LDI 2010.  But there were a few gems of lumen producing gold that everyone might not be aware of.  Oh come on, did you know they made a lamp that can produce 1.7 million lumens?  Now yea do!  Thanks to Mark Delorezo from Osram.  He took us on a tour of the Osram booth and showed off some of the latest innovations from Osram.

Take a look and let me know what you think.  Thanks Mark & Kori!

The Video Equipment Rental Booth at LDI 2010

Some of the most amazing booths at LDI 2010 were the simplest ones.  Case in point, the Video Equipment Rental or VER Booth.  They didn’t have a big fancy booth with moving lights dancing all around the booth or lasers running across the entire show floor.  They had a modest 20×20 booth with dancing circles of video display.

No one was on the edge of their booth asking you to stop in and take a look.  Everyone that walked past their booth instinctively stopped and marveled at the circles dancing and running loops of right in front of us.  Take a look and see for yourself.

TOMCAT’s New QU & Curtains Track Truss

TOMCAT displayed new products at its booth at LDI: QU Truss Series, as well as its new Curtain Track Truss. The QU Truss Series products stand out for its simple tool free connection, fast assembly and disassembly, and multiple configurations. The products were designed for specific applications including exhibits, audiovisual equipment support, ballroom/conference environments and soft goods support.

The QU Truss Series includes 2 news products: The QU-212 Batten Ladder has a 20 ft span UDL capacity of 1000 lbs., 4’’ wide top chord for stability, and requires minimal truck/storage space with the availability of storage carts. The QU-312 Triangle Truss with 840 lbs. UDL over a 30’ span, and 400 lbs UDL over a 40ft span also has the availability of storage carts.

TOMCAT’s new Curtain Track Truss has the following features: An integrated track which accepts readily available carriers, includes self aligning connection plates, and its 2’’ members accept commonly used mounting hardware. It also offers a single and double track configuration with a 30ft. span UDL capacity of 1000 lbs., is available curved or straight, and is perfect for walking curtains/screens.

My Next Garage Door Will be LED, Thanks to Pix2o

Come on, this is an AWESOME idea!  Think about it, want to watch the big game on a big screen AND park your car behind it? In steps the Pix20 and the VideoBlade.  This thing is incredible!  No more needing a flay space above the screen to hide a video wall, just roll the thing up!

Take a look at the VideoBlade in action from the floor at LDI.  Pix20 really has something here!  Thanks Scott for keying me in on this.  Now I need to design my future garage around the VideoBlade!

The Latest From Philips at LDI 2010

If you were at LDI this year, you had to have noticed the Philips booth.  It was kind of hard to miss it.  Philips was dead smack in the middle of the floor with a huge open layout with an awesome circle truss FILLED with all of their latest LED products from all of their brands, Vari-Lite, Strand and Selecon.

My good friend and funny man from Philips, Peta Borchetta gave me a walking tour of the booth going over all the latest and greatest products. Ignore the interruptions for the peanut gallery, Alan Kibbe for the Vari-Lite division wanted to throw us off and get his five seconds on camera. Maybe next time Alan! ;)

Thanks Pete for the tour!

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner – Jason Lynch, Focus Fail

Last week I announced a contest for the brand new Flat Ultimate Focus Tool from StageJunk.com.  I put a call out for photos of why you NEED the FUFT and the tool that you would be replacing the FUFT with.  Out of all the entries which were just as hilarious and awesome, Jason Lynch from Syracuse New York stood out as the winner.  Not to say that everyone else’s photo were not creative and just as hilarious,  but the FAIL hardhat won me over!

Congratulations Jason, that is a great photo, I love it!  Check your email.  Thanks to everyone that submitted photos for the contest, you all rock and are highly imaginative people, keep up the great work!

If you are not Jason and you still want the Flat Ultimate Focus Tool, head over to StageJunk.com.  The FUFT has not made it to the website just yet, but you can contact Rob Junk and purchase your Black or Silver FUFT for just $20. Thanks again Rob for providing the FUFT for the contest!

Altman Lighting Shows off New Spectra Strip & UV 30 Spectra LED Fixtures at LDI 2010

Altman Lighting has been a driving force in our industry for years, for like 50+ years!  They have designed and manufactures some of the most innovative products for our industry.  Just a couple short years ago, Altman leaped forward into the 21st century with LED products and haven’t looked back.

LDI 2010 brought one brand spankin new LED product and the final production version of another that some have seen before.  The first was the brand new Spectra Strip, a 600 watt LED strip light. The other is the Blacklight UV 30 Spectra LED fixture.

Take a look at the video of Walt Dowling from Altman Lighting giving a quick overview of both fixtures from the floor of LDI 2010.

Thanks Walt!

MDG Fog, theONE, Takes Best Debuting Product at LDI 2010

MDG Fog took home the Best Debuting Product Award at LDI this year with the latest product, theONE.  It’s not wonder why, this thing spits out fog or haze like no ones business!  Just take a look at the tour edition of the thing with CO2 canisters attached, it looks mean and ready to smoke you out.  In fog mode, theONE can spit out 10 hours, yes 10 HOURS of continues fog.. But it gets better, it Haze Mode, 308 HOURS all while consuming just 1415 watts of power.

There is a good reason MDG is calling this thing theONE, it’s the last one you’ll ever need!  Martin Michaud, President of MDG Fog gave me a quick run down and demo of both the touring edition of theONE and the stand alone version.  Take a look and let me know what you think.  Will this be the last one you’ll ever need?

Thanks Martin and congrats!