Compulite Releases V3.18R01 Vector Console Software Update

Compulite has announced a new software update for their series of Vector lighting consoles.

V3.18R01 adds a number of new features and enhancements to Vector consoles, including:

– A major GUI overhaul adding new and improved look and feel to the screen views
– New look buttons with the ability to design and set up soft keys with custom fonts, colors, patterns and sizes
– New dimmer operations of Single Dimmer Exam, Port swap and single dimmer display info on the command line
– A unique feature to enable 200% for the Grand Master

Over 200 device profiles have been added or updated. All Vector consoles now offer support for ACN protocol, DMX output via Ethernet.

Full release notes and the software download are available at Compulite’s website: www.compulite.com.

Barco Starts Shipping New intellaspot XT-1 Moving Light

Not to long ago, Barco/High End Systems announced their latest moving light, the intellaspot XT-1.  Good news, Barco/High End Systems has just begun shipping the fixture to customers.  Here’s more info from Barco’s updated press release:

Digital and automated lighting pioneer Barco/High End Systems announced today that it is now shipping the intellaspot XT-1, an innovative, full-featured hard-edged moving yoke light offering a new benchmark in a price/performance ratio.  The intellaspot XT-1 features remarkable innovations in optics, lamp configuration, high lumen output, energy efficiency, zoom range and more for a highly economical price.

The intellaspot XT-1 features a powerful optical system, producing an extreme 20,000 lumens output from the 850w HID lamp, while also providing clear projections with a large zoom range of 11°- 55°.  It features a fast mechanical iris, variable soft edge, and electronic strobing, in addition to smooth CMY color mixing and variable CTO.  A fixed color wheel allows instant color choices via easily exchangeable dichroic filters.  Two rotating Lithopattern® wheels, each with seven patterns plus open, provide a large number of output patterns and images.  The output can be further enhanced with a rotating prism and an animation wheel.

Built on an entirely new platform, the intellaspot XT-1 is an exceptionally energy-efficient fixture that conforms to modern “greening” principles.  A battery-controlled full color LCD menu system enables fixture addressing without having to power up the unit.  Low ambient noise, Remote Device Management (RDM), Art-Net, and wireless DMX capabilities make the intellaspot XT-1 the professional choice for a wide variety of applications.

Check out more details about the intellaspot XT-1 by visiting Barco/High End Systems website, www.barco.com.

Vectorworks & Lightwright 5 Webinar Video Now Available

Back on May 18th, I wrote about a Vectorworks Spotlight and Lightwright webinar about how to exchange data between the two applications. The webinar happened back on May 25, yes, over a month away! Since I was at the Broadway Lighting Master Classes in New York, I was not able to get online to watch the webinar so I missed out just like you if you missed it.

Nemetschek, the developers of Vectorworks has just made the webinar avilable on their web site as a quicktime video!  So I guess we didn’t miss out!  Here is a bit of background on the webinar and video.

If you missed the May 25th webinar entitled “Exchanging Data With Vectorworks Spotlight and Lightwright” you can view it here. Lightwright’s author, John McKernon, and Kevin Linzey of Nemetschek put this 35 minute tutorial together. If you are a lighting designer (or lighting student) you will want to watch this webinar. (Note: Please be patient and give this large file time to download, it is worth it!)

What are you waiting for, start downloading it now and get your learn on! Thanks Nemetschek!

West Side Systems Updates All Their iPhone Apps for iOS4

Looks like West Side Systems is leading the pack in the lighting apps with updating most of their iPhone apps for iOS4 and multitasking. So all of you iPhone and iPod touch users that have taken time time to update your devices with Apple’s latest iOS update, head over to iTunes or the app store app on your device and get the free updates from West Side System.  That is if you have already purchased and downloaded them.

Just last week, Apple released it’s latest version of the iPhone and iPod Touch operation system which has been named iOS4.  The new iOS is geared towards Apple’s latest iPhone, 4G.  But Apple didn’t leave it’s current iPhone users in the dark.  Owners of 3G, 3Gs and iPod Touch devices are able to upgrade for free and get some of the great new features Apple added such as multitasking.

Multitasking gives us iPhone users the ability to run multiple apps at once now rather then opening one, going back to the home screen and opening up and another and so forth to work with multiple apps. The catch being that not only do you have to have iOS4 installed, but the apps have to have the multitasking support.  West Side Systems is the first lighting app developer to update and release their apps in the iTunes app store with the multitasking support.  I am expecting many of the other lighting app developers to follow suit very shortly.

In addition to getting multitasking support, BeamCalc also got a few updates to improve how it renders and draws beam projections.

ETC Updates iRFR iPhone App to v1.1.33 with iPad Support

Mid last week, ETC’s, (Electronic Theatre Controls), iRFR iPhone App was approved through the Apple iTunes App store for release of version 1.1.33.  The most significant change from pervious versions of the iRFR app is the support to run the app natively on the iPad.  ETC has taken full use of the larger screen and added more functions to the app. Some of the new features found in version 1.1.33 are thus:

• View the active cue list
• interact with the active cue list, in a separate screen
• Access to a pan/tilt encoder display
• Console connect list
• iPad specific – create full encoder controls page, add cue notes

The iRFR app can be used with version 1.6 or higher of the Eos Family of consoles and version 5.1.0 or higher of Congo consoles.  There is a little bit of networking and wireless access point setup that needs to be completed before the iRFR app can connect to any of the afore mentioned consoles.  ETC has written up some how-tos and step by step guide to connect the iRFR to your console which can be found on their WiKi pages.

The app is a free update to current owners of the app and works both on the iPhone and the iPad.  For new users, the iRFR app cost $49.99 USD.  There are still to versions of the iRFR app in the iTunes app store, the iRFR-BTS and the iRFR-LR.  They are the same exact app, just that the procedes from the iRFR-BTS goes to ESTA Foundations Behind the Scenes and the procedes from iRFR-LR goes to Light Relief, both industry charities that support our fallen or disabled brothers and sisters.

Helpful hint, if you do not have a console to connect your iRFR app to, no worries, you can connect the app to the offline editor of either console family and get up running to get use to the new update.

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ShowTool LD iPhone App Updated for iPad

Daniel Murfin, the iPhone lighting app developer of such apps as ShowTool Sm and ShowTool LD recently hinted about an update of his app, ShowTool LD getting an update. I just got word this morning that Apple has approved the update, (V2.2) and has released it into the iTunes App Store.

The update brings a couple of new features such as a Gel cutting list and a power requirements formula section.  Probably the biggest feature of this update has to be the support for the iPad. Daniel is the second iPhone lighting app developer to release an iPad native app into the market. ShowTool LD on the iPad makes use of the entire screen by enlarging the user interface as well as expanding the view of each screen.

ShowTool LD runs $4.99 in the Apple iTunes App Store.  For current owners, the update is a free download.  To learn more about some of the lighting and entertainment apps Daniel has developed, visit his web site at www.dsmurfin.co.uk.

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Update: Martin M1 Lighting Control Desk with Photo

FINALLY, a name has been announced about Martin’s new control desk, it’s called the M1. Martin has even added the M1 to there web site well before the desk unveiling at ProLight + Sound in Frankfurt Germany next week.  Looking over the “manual” that Martin has made available, it looks as though development or at least the proper manual is still in the works.  All that was found in the manual are more features, control interfaces and physical layout of the desk.

Maybe well see more about how the M1 desk functions before ProLight + Sound.

Update: Martin’s Offerings at ProLight + Sound

All I can say is ask, and you shall receive! From the Martin Press Release:

On display in Hall 9.0 stand B91 will be all new LED moving heads including a hard edge LED luminaire that surpasses anything that has come before it. Other top innovations include a new generation indoor/outdoor LED screen, a high-output profile moving head with continuous rotation framing, a powerful beam fixture in the MAC family, new LED lights for indoor and outdoor use, as well as a new Exterior range of outdoor luminaires.

Several new user-friendly control and media server solutions will also feature including a powerful, all-in-one lighting console that sets new standards in simplicity for a full featured desk. A full complement of Jem and Magnum smoke machines will also be on display.

MAC 350 Entour™: The MAC 350 Entour is a cutting edge LED profile fixture that surpasses what has previously been possible in terms of brightness, efficiency and compactness in a hard edge LED fixture. Featuring proprietary LED technology, it is the market’s first real alternative to traditional HID-based profile fixtures. In a package smaller and lighter than market leading 250 watt fixtures, the MAC 350 Entour exceeds even 300 watt fixtures in brightness.

MAC III Performance™: The MAC III Performance is a high-output profile moving head with a new interleaved framing system with full crossover of each blade and industry-first continuous rotation for new and unlimited projection, framing and effects possibilities. It is available as a stand-alone fixture or as an easy-to-swap module that installs in minutes on any MAC III Profile™, eliminating the need to invest in two separate fixtures.

EC-20™: The EC series represents the new generation of indoor and outdoor LED screens, combining low weight and creativity with state-of-the-art image quality. It combines the image quality and precision of conventional high resolution screens (20 mm pixel pitch) with the creativity and low weight of mesh type screens. Featuring outstanding image quality and semi-transparency, the EC-20 is designed for rapid setup and teardown in combination with maximum flexibility and easy serviceability.

MAC 401 CT Zoom™: The MAC 401 CT Zoom is an exceptionally versatile color temperature variable white light source wash luminaire with fast zoom. The MAC 401 CT Zoom not only delivers more light than traditional RGB LED fixtures, but projects a much better light quality, making it excellent for highlighting skin tones or textiles. Highly efficient, power consumption is much lower than traditional tungsten washlights. It is also available as a module that easily fits onto either side of any MAC 401 Dual, creating a white light or color plus white light source.

MAC 2000 Beam XB™ and MAC 2000 Beam™: Easily convert any MAC 2000 Wash XB™ or MAC 2000 Wash™ luminaire into a powerful beam fixture with an inexpensive conversion kit that installs in minutes. Amazingly bright, the MAC 2000 Beam XB also includes smooth dimming, strobe, full color mixing, variable CTO, color wheel, gobos and a real 1:3 wash zoom.

M1™: M1 is the next generation lighting controller from Martin Professional. With the full power of a larger desk and the agility of a smaller one, the M1 is a state-of-the-art, all-in-one lighting desk. Following the philosophy and simplicity of our current controller platform, the Martin M1 sets a new standard as the most powerful and affordable full-featured lighting console on the market.

Exterior 400 Range™: The Exterior 400 Range brings maximum design flexibility to outdoor lighting. These new LED washes consist of two extremely powerful RGBW color mixing fixtures (separate color pixels or pre-mixed), one white light fixture featuring a super wide color temperature range, and a single color variant. Long or short throw, mixed or single color, warm or cold white, the Exterior 400 Range does it all.

Tripix™: The Tripix 1200 and Tripix 300 are the first fixtures in a new Martin line of IP66 rated outdoor LED luminaires. These two attractively designed striplights are fast to install and are the first architectural fixtures from Martin to use tricolor LEDs for superior color mixing directly at the lens.

Easypix™: Easypix is a modular, 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, it is a simple yet highly capable dynamic lighting solution.

Maxedia 4™: Dozens of new features and improvements have been implemented into Maxedia to make the market’s most user-friendly media server even easier to use. New plug-ins for never before seen effects, new PufferSpheretm plug-ins, new super fast capture cards and other updates set the standard for HD playback quality, stability and ease of use.

Ether2DMX8™: Ether2DMX8 is a high capable DMX router and much more! As a DMX router, it translates Artnet protocol into DMX in/out universes but can also be used as a DMX merger, DMX splitter hub, fail safe device, cue playback, and DMX viewer monitor.

Jem ZR44 Hi-Mass™: Leading the way as the preferred fog machine for the professional market over the last decade, 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.

Update: ADB Lighting HATHOR Desk PHOTO

I got a lovely little surprise in my inbox after coming back from lunch.  Looks like a reader has seen the HATHOR console or possibly knows some one at ADB lighting to be sending this along.  What can we tell from this photo?  It seems as though the codenamed HATHOR desk coming from ADB Lighting has at least one integrated touchscreen and has the ability to record, look and chaser.  All good qualities of a desk! What else… not much, what do you think?

I guess we’ll just have to wait till next week at ProLight + Sound to see more of the desk.

ETC Releases Congo V6… Again

I swear that I have written about this before… oh wait I DID! If you did not notice, ETC un-released Congo V6.  ETC found just a couple of things that made version 6.0.2 not hold up to ETC’s high standards. Have no fear, ETC has fixed the problem and has just re-released Congo V6.

Here is what Sarah Clausen, the Controls Product Manager has to say:

ETC is happy to announce the release of Congo v6.0.3 software for the Congo and Congo jr lighting control consoles, Congo Light Server and Net3 Remote Video Interface units. This version is mainly to resolve issues that many of you may have encountered in the field with previous v6 releases. It is highly recommended that any site currently running with v6.0.0-v6.0.2 software update to v6.0.3 as soon as possible. This version has been rigorously tested not only in our labs but in over 30 beta sites worldwide in varying configurations of stand-alone, server-backup and server-client systems. We believe this version addresses issues of “hourglassing” and system slowdowns, as well as the unhandled crashes that caused us to pull v6.0.2 from our Web site.

If you have experienced any of the problems above, we express our sincerest gratitude for your patience. We believe that v6.0.3 addresses these problems and that you can update your systems with confidence. As always, if you experience any problems with your system, please contact us either at Congo@etcconnect.com or by calling your local ETC dealer or our Technical Support departments in the USA, UK, Germany or Hong Kong.

Congo v6.0.3 software and release notes may be downloaded here. All consoles, Light Servers and RVI/Client PCs in a system must be updated at the same timer. There is also a v6.0.3 installer for Congo Offline Editor for Macintosh available for free download.

ShowTool LD iPhone App Updated to Version 2.0

I just received a note from Daniel Murfin the iPhone developer and creator of ShowTool LD iPhone app, that he has just released an update to the app to version 2.0.

The app has been redesigned from the ground up for speed and ease of use and sports a brand new user interface making it easier and faster to access the various features.

A new power calculator has been added to the suite providing quick and easy calculations for a variety of needs. In addition, the new preferences panel provides the user with further customizations.

An updated lantern database provides additional fixtures for the gel cutting calculation tool.

All features provide full metric and imperial options as well as providing international number formatting support. Language localization architecture is now built in and new languages will be added soon. More great features and utilities planned, with free updates for all users.

ShowTool LD 2.0 is available through the iTunes store at $4.99USD.  Current owners of the app can download the software for free.  For more information visit Daniel’s website at www.dsmurfin.co.uk.  To purchase or update to ShowTool LD version 2.0, visit the iTunes App Store.

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!