Jands Vista Preparing to Release Byron Into the Wild

Back at PLASA 09, Jands Vista introduced their latest software upgrade to their Vista line of consoles, Byron.  Jands had demo’s of Byron running at LDI 09, but alas, I did not get a chance to see Byron running in person.  But since then, I have meet Byron and he is a pretty cool dude, I mean OS.

What impresses me about Byron is that is uses Apple’s proven Bonjour™ networking technology to configure a lighting network, a ‘no IT guy’ solution that makes backup and more advanced networking operations easy. With Byron you’ll never have to enter an IP address or configure a DNS server again.

Another key addition to Byron from Vista’s old operating system is the addition of a command line. The Byron command line is completely synchronized with the interface, showing the clip or step you’re editing at any time. When you type a command you see the equivalent action happen on the fixture icons and control palettes: all pen-driven commands are interpreted into plain language on the command line in real time. Of course, the command line supports all well-known numeric keypad syntax (for example, typing ‘1/26*55’ would set fixtures 1 to 26 at 55% intensity).

If you’re used to selecting lights and setting levels by numbers, you can use the command line in combination with the Vista’s visual interface to give yourself even greater control than before.

Some of the other new features of Byron:

• tracking backup that synchronises a second console or PC to take over seamlessly in the case of a failure
• a second-generation timeline providing visual split fade times, a per-step timing structure that lets you instantly set fade and delay times for some or all the events in a step, and new filters that make it easier to see what’s going on with big rigs
• an extended generic fixture model that doesn’t limit the use of non-standard or overlapping features and adapts to all types of new and unusual fixtures
• a completely overhauled user interface reflecting user feedback, with search functions built in throughout
• a brand new visual method of controlling media servers
• new Matrix layouts and effects for use with LEDs and other fixtures

Byron will be a free download and upgrade for current uses when it is finally released.  A time line for release has not be announced, but should be sometime during the first quarter of 2010.  To learn more about Byron from Jands Vista, visit their website at www.jandsvista.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.

Pulsar Introduces ChromaPowerPix 200 LED Blinder

At the PLASA Show this year at Earls Court in London England, Pulsar Lighting introduced their latest LED lighting fixture, the ChromaPowerPix 200. The ChromaPowerPix 200 is 12 independently controlled cluster of five 3w TriColor LEDs contained in a lightweight aluminum compact design. Each of the 12 clusters of LEDs is able to produce 15 watts for a total of 180 watts of output.

Since each cluster of LEDs is independently controlled, the ChromaPowerPix 200 is able to produce different colors through each cluster giving you a wide range of color mixing possibilities with smooth, clicker-free color mixing and rendering.

The ChromaPowerPix 200 has a couple of choices for diffusion and beam spread lens available from a wide angle plate for wide and even coverage of an area.  an optional lens plate for beam effects and illumination.  The other lens plate is a Diffusion dome plate, (which is also optional), for visual graphics and matrix displays.

The ChromaPowerPix 200 measures just under 25″ high by 26″ wide and a depth of just under 3″, the fixture is easily hung just about any where with either a suspension cable system or hanging bar.

The ChromaPowerPix 200 is controlled Pulsar’s world-wide compatible 200 watt power supply and is controlled via DMX.

For more information on the Pulsar ChromaPowerPix 200 or to locate a Pulsar dealer near you, visit their website at www.pulsarlight.com.

Compulite Announces New Vector Violet Console

At the PLASA Show this year, Compulite announced the arrival of a new console to their Vector lineup of consoles, the Vector Violet. Designed as a lightweight and portable console for touring, the Vector Violet is small at 2′ wide and just over a foot deep and made of composite materials. Contained in this small package is all of the advanced programming features that you would expect from it’s larger brothers.

Three versions of the Vector Violet are expected, the Vector Ultra Violet pictured left will include a 15.4″ wide screen touch monitor that is able to fold down similar to it’s larger brothers.  All versions of the Vector Violet will include an embedded 7″ touch screen and 6 encoding wheels for multi-parameter fixture control and 20 non-motorized playback sliders.

Here is just a sampling of some of the features found in the Vector Violet:

• 2048 standard or 4096 (option) outputs
• Up to 200 active playbacks
• 100mm A/B “Theatre Style” dipless or split cross fader
• 20 playback faders
• 2 programming syntax: Enter or Action completes
• 2 operational modes: Tracking or Traditional Compulite
• Gobo, Color, and Media graphical pickers
• Multimedia capabilities
• Image, audio and text file attachment to show objects
• Full tracking backup
• Compulite VC’s, ACN, Artnet protocols

At the time of writting, pricing and a release date have not been set. To learn more about the Compulite Vector Violet visit their website at www.compulite.com. Compulite is distributed in North America by Creative Stage Lighting.

PLASA09: The First Day

It is September 13 and the first day of the PLASA Show at Earls Court in London England.  At the time of release, the show floor has been open for 3 hours already. We have not heard much yet from any of the exhibitors or attendees yet.

What we have confirmed is that Total Structures and Total Solutions will be manufacturing and distributing the RSC LightLock.  Total Structures sent out a late tweet Saturday night, about 9 hours before the doers opened at Earls Court to make the announcement.

You can learn more about the RSC LightLock by visiting their website at www.rsclightlock.com.

Interactive Technologies Introduces The SceneStation

Interactive Technologies, the makers of the CueServer, has just introduced their latest DMX Control device, the SceneStation. The SceneStation is a different kind of architectural Preset Station as is goes beyond just simple playback of looks, but can run chases, stepped sequences or a cue list of scenes.

Each of the five buttons on the SceneStation include a fully programmable RGB backlight LED with optional button caps that can be engraved with custom labels.  The SceneStation also includes an infrared port for controlling, programming and setting up the SceneStation with a programming remote.

The SceneStation can control any device that runs over standard DMX signal as the SceneStation has bi-directional DMX port.

Interactive Technologies will be launching the SceneStation at the PLASA Show at Earls Court in London, England next week as well as LDI in November in October. To learn more about the SceneStation, visit Interactive Technologies website at www.interactive-online.com.

PLASA09: Update on RSC LightLock

The other day we mentioned the pre show announcement of the Royal Shakespeare Companies LightLock device for hanging moving lights.  After speaking with a couple of our fellow entertainment news outlets we have some updated information.

The RSC LighLock was actually introduced last year at PLASA08 but only as a prototype.  Since then it seems that the RSC has been refining and developing it for mass production.

So what is the deal with it being re-introduced this year at PLASA09?  From the looks of it, the RSC has found a partner to manufacture the LockLight for them.  From putting mumblings together that we have heard around the industry and following various twitter feeds, we are pretty confident to say that Total Structures from California will be manufacturing the LightLock for RSC.  We are expecting this announcement to happen the first day of the PLASA show at Earls Court.

Live Coverage of PLASA 2009

Are you planning on attending PLASA at Earls Court in London next week? You’re not?! Neither are we. We just could not swing the trip over the great big blue.  But have no fear, there are some UK based designers and friends that will be covering the show for all of us giving you and me updates via their website’s and twitter feeds.

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PLASA09: Get Your Show Guide Early

If you are attending the PLASA Show this year at Earls Court in London England, make sure you are prepared before you get there!  With just a couple of days before the show floor opens on the 13th of September, prep your self before hand by mapping out your adventures on the show floor and all the sessions being offered.

For the first time, PLASA Media has published the Show Catalogue before the doors open.  No more getting the Show Catalogue on the first day and spending time sifting through 100 pages of information to find the session or manufacturer on the show floor.  Get it all done before you even leave for the show!

The online version of the Show Catalogue is the same as the print version that you can get at the show.  It includes a full listing of all of the exhibitors with a quick reference guide listing exhibitors from A-Z as well as the ever useful show floor plan!

There is no PDF version available to download, but if you have a PDF “printer” installed on your pc, you can “print” the entire Show Catalogue from the online view and save as a PDF.

You can access the online PLASA Show Catalogue by visiting the Show’s website at www.plasashow.com.

PLASA09: Martin Professional New Lighting Solutions

We just received a press release from Martin Professionals regarding some of the things they plan on announcing and showing off at the PLASA Show next week at Earls Court.  More from the official Press Release:

Martin Professional heads to PLASA 2009 at Earl’s Court in London (September 13-16) armed with a new and rapidly expanding range of LED lighting solutions. On display at stand 1-F44 will be Martin’s first LED moving heads, new LED video solutions, and new LED luminaires for indoor and outdoor use.  A new compact beam fixture in the MAC family will also feature. Also on display will be a host of lighting and video control solutions, as well as updates in the Jem and Magnum line of fog and haze machines.

MAC 401 Dual™: The MAC 401 Dual is a creatively fresh and versatile LED moving head washlight with an innovative double-sided design that gives it flexible dual functionality, for example as a double washlight or beam reflective mirror. The 401 Dual’s innovative color mixing system fully blends colors at the source before they leave each lens, eliminating the problem of rainbow shadows and the messy multi-color lens looks of traditional LED fixtures. The 401 Dual’s advanced wash characteristics combine with a host of other useful features like fast zoom, new broad beam look and individual LED segment control to add a new and inventive element to a host of applications.

MAC 301 Wash™: The MAC 301 Wash is an LED moving head washlight that features a powerfully fast zoom with an impressive zoom range. It is capable of producing a wide range of exceptional colors from rich saturated shades to uniform pastels through the entire zoom range. The fixture’s 108 high-power LEDs produce a bright and well-defined beam and its compact, lightweight design makes it ideal for rental applications, television use, night-time venues and more. Appropriately quiet for noise sensitive environments, it offers all the reliability, energy and cost benefits of a highly efficient LED luminaire.

LC Plus™ Series: The LC Plus is a modular system of semi-transparent LED video panels with new generation technology that closely integrates light, video and set design for all new possibilities in indoor and outdoor staging. Designed for the demanding rental and staging market, yet equally suitable for fixed installations such as retail environments and outdoor architecture, the LC Plus is an easy-to-use, all-in-one video solution. It offers several key advantages over other types of LED panels including an innovative P3 technology platform for no-hassle processing and signal distribution, low weight, superior color and brightness uniformity, and true IP65 protection.

P3-100 System Controller: The LC Plus is driven by Martin’s innovative P3-100 System Controller, an ultra robust unit for advanced video signal processing and integration with lighting control. It includes built in scaling and de-interlacing, supports multiple video protocols and resolutions, and allows for direct DMX control of brightness, color, pixelmapping and more. It also includes a built-in graphical user interface and other innovative features.

FlexDOT™: FlexDOT is a lightweight yet bright string of LED pixels that allows designers to break free from the flat, rectangular format of conventional LED displays and create customized video solutions with maximum artistic flexibility and a minimum of effort. Easy to handle and simple to use, FlexDOT is made up of individually controllable, intelligent, full color pixels mounted on a flexible cable to provide unlimited options for enhancing interior and exterior spaces.

Martin MEL™: Martin MEL are the first fixtures in a new Martin line of IP65 rated outdoor LED luminaries. These attractively designed striplights are the first architectural fixtures from Martin to use tricolor LEDs for superior color mixing directly at the lens resulting in an absence of color shadows and a broader range of color choices. The MEL range also incorporates a new custom-designed lens system for very narrow beam angles that have been difficult to achieve with tricolor LED fixtures in the past. The MEL range installs in minutes.

Martin MSL™: Martin MSL is a simple yet highly capable plug-and-play LED striplight designed to enhance interior spaces in a wide variety of applications. Built for ultimate ease-of-use with full spectrum RGB color mixing, a choice of diffuser lenses and an exceptionally easy means of installation, Martin MSL is ideal for color enhancement in clubs, bars and restaurants or anywhere a low maintenance, decorative color effect is required.

MAC 250 Beam™: This new member of the industry’s most popular 250 watt series is an extremely punchy and compact beam fixture that generates variably sized pencil beams as well as wash effects via a motorized frost filter. It is available as an easy and inexpensive upgrade that installs in only 5 minutes on any existing MAC 250 Wash™ fixture.

Maxxyz™ Modules: Based on the modular design of the Maxxyz Compact™ lighting console, a new range of stand alone modules has been developed for the Maxxyz system that allows users to design their own console. These new modules allow for customization around the user and the specific control demands of a show. Five innovative modules are available to build a custom console or to be used with Maxxyz PC™, Maxxyz™ or Maxxyz Compact™ and all of them can be used table-top, mounted in a 19” rack system or in the new Maxxyz Module Frame.

Maxedia 4™: This new version of Martin’s Maxedia media server is optimized to play H.264 MOV encoded video files using a state-of-the-art H.264 video decoder. This latest broadcast hardware is capable of playing eight 1080p Full-HD video files, encoded in H.264. The Maxedia 4 engine is capable of playing pixel-accurate Full HD resolution.

ColorFox VX01™: Martin’s ColorFox VX01 is the first lighting controller specifically designed for architectural use with dynamic color changing fixtures. This incredibly simple control solution allows users to customize and personalize a variety of architectural lighting settings. It allows for easy playback of static and dynamic scenes and provides a simple-to-use interface for users to alter the hue, saturation and intensity of their surroundings.

Jem ZR44 Hi-Mass™: The Jem ZR33 Hi-Mass™ has undergone a thorough makeover that preserves its reputation as a reliable and highly efficient fogger. The new Jem ZR44 Hi-Mass features improvements in overall performance and fluid type, as well as advances in digital functionality such as RDM compatibility.

Magnum Wireless: The newly introduced Magnum range of fog and haze machines is now even more accessible thanks to new wireless control capability.

Be sure to stop by the Martin Professional booth to see all of these great products in action.  For more information before hand, visit Martin’s website at www.martin.com.

PLASA09: RSC LightLock

Looking ahead towards the PLASA Show next week at Earls Court in London England, We have a preview of what the Royal Shakespeare Company has been working on, the RSC LightLock.

Imagine this, you need to hang a moving light in a place where there is no pipe or truss hung.  In comes the RSC LightLock, a free floating rig to suspend a moving light from that counter acts the pan of said moving light. Until now, it has been next to impossible to hang a moving light from a lightweight automated bar or truss and not have the entire rig swing or swag due to movement of the moving light.

Each RSC LightLock unit is equipped with on board sensors to constantly monitor the units movement as well as servos to counteract and generate sufficient inertia to eliminate un-wanted movement.

The Royal Shakespeare Company is better known for it’s interpretations of works by William Shakespeare, The head of lighting at RSC, Vince Herbert found a need for such a device and developed the LightLock for use in the recently renovation of the RSC’s lighting system.

More information about the RSC’s LightLock is still a little hard to come by.  We are expecting more information to be released at the PLASA Show next week at Earls Court.  Check out the video of the RSC LightLock in action in a YouTube video hosted by Patrick Stweart.

UPDATE: Rob from onstagelighting.co.uk informed us that the RSC LightLock was actually introduced LAST year at PLASA. From the RSC’s press release, they are planning on re-introducing it at PLASA again this year. So everyone forget what you heard about it last year as this year’s introduction will be much better!  But as Rob points out, “it is a solution looking for a problem“.