WFX Show Open Thursday

This week brings us the Worship Facilities Conference & Expo (WFX) in Charlotte North Carolina.  As you may guess from the title of the show, it is geared to houses of worship.  A bunch of lighting manufacturers exhibit at the show demoing some of the latest and great products out there. WFX brings together everything a church may need from stage lighting, Video projection, to sound equipment and much more.

Whether your church is considering an expansion project or just wants to know how to better use your existing facility … if your team is considering a new investment in technology, audio, video, lighting or broadcast capabilities … or if your church is planning outreach via multisite or social networking to reach a new or broader audience.

If you are in the Charlotte area, you may benefit from stopping by the show.  The Exhibit Hall opens at 11:30am on Thursday the 29 and goes to 4:00pm on Friday the 30. You can still get a free floor pass to walk the show floor. We mentioned earlier that Wybron is expected to announce a new LED fixture at the show so it may be worth while.

Rumor Mill: Is Wybron Hiding Something in Their Truck

With the Wybron Mobile Showroom on the road, we have been hearing rumors that tucked away some where deep inside the truck, possibly in the cab, that there is a super secret new lighting fixture that Wybron is preparing to announce at the WFX show in Charlotte, NC later this month and then at the LDI show in Orlando next month.

From what we can put together, Wybron is preparing to announce an LED fixture.  We haven’t been able to confirm any specifics as of yet. But with the WFX Show starting on October 27, we are certain more information might get out before long.

Wybron Takin’ It To The Streets

Have you ever wanted to see a product up close and personal and cannot make it to a show or product demo? Wybon has just announced the Wybron Mobile Showroom is Takin’ it to the Streets road show.

More From the Press Release:

The world of professional lighting is, all told, a relatively small one, with most technicians and designers, manufacturers and dealers running in the same tiny circles. This is of no uncertain benefit in most regards, but the same familiarity that ensures that John A. from Company X will run into Tom B. from Company Y at this year’s trade shows can also breed insularity, creating a rift between those deeply in the business and those outside of it.

“The challenge of this industry is to actually get information to the people who will benefit from it,” said Wybron, Inc. CEO Keny Whitright. “A trade show is terrific, sure, but you’re often lacking time to connect with all the folks you would like to.”

Enter the Wybron Mobile Showroom, a custom-built, state-of-the-art enclosure which hits the road for its first leg of stops beginning the first week of October 2009. While in the San Antonio, Houston and Dallas areas, the Mobile Showroom will provide hands-on demonstration of Wybron offerings and an opportunity for tête-à-tête with lighting professionals, including their local dealers. Most importantly, however, the Mobile Showroom offers education on the general theory behind and mechanics of professional lighting to an audience who may be unfamiliar with either or both.

“The educational component is an important one,” said Whitright. “You often see misuse or just plain overkill of lighting in churches or schools, and we want to provide some perspective for people in those markets.”

The Mobile Showroom’s Texas dates are the first of nearly two years of planned stops across North America, with the next being the Washington, D.C. and southern New Jersey areas.

Current Schedule is:

• 10/5: San Antonio TX – Texas Senic
• 10/6: Houston TX – Barbizon
• 10/7: Houston TX – Stagelight
• 10/8: Dallas TX – PRG
• 10/9: Dallas TX – Barbizon

For more information, contact Dusty Hudgins at 719-548-9774.

Wybron Updates Moiré Gobo App

A new version of Wybrons Moiré Gobo Library iPhone App is right around the corner. In the update version of the app, Wybron has included gobos from Goboland, inLight Grayscale and GAM Halftone gobos.

That means from the original 1,500 gobos that you were able to select from, you now have over 5,000 gobo’s to choose from all right with in the app. That is 6 different manufacturers of gobos!  All searchable by title, stock number as well as browse by type, such as Trees.

Current owners of the Moiré Gobo App can download and upgrade to the updated version next week when it added to iTunes. For new users, the current price on the Moiré Gobo App is $10 through iTunes.

Wybron Updates/Addes more Gobo’s and Gels to iPhone Apps

We just heard through the marketing department at Wybron that they have updates to two of their iPhone app’s, the Gel Swatch Library and the Moiré Gobo Library.

Wybron has added over 500 gobo’s from Inlight Gobo and over 1,300 gobo’s from Apollo Design.  This means that the gobo library include over 3,300 different gobo patterns to view. A new feature included in the 1.1 update is the ability to “flip” the gobo between front and back sides.

The new updated version of the Moiré Gobo Library has been added to the iTunes App store and can be viewed here.  the update is free to current owners while new users, the price remains $9.99.

The Gel Swatch Library now includes 150 Apollo gels in addtion to the Gam, Lee and Rsoco gel colors.  This gives the total amount of gels that can be reviewed to over 1,000. The update to the Gel Swatch Library will be added to the iTunes app store within the next two weeks and will be free to current owners. Be sure to visit the iTunes app store to purchase and download the update when released.

Wybron Releases New iPhone App: Moiré Gobo Library

We reported a week or so ago that Wybron was on the verge of announcing a new iPhone app.  The rumors are true, earlier this week, Wybron announced the release of their latest iPhone App, Moiré Gobo Library. More information from the official Press Release:

A new iPhone application by Wybron packs more than 1,500 gobos into a sleek device that fits in the user’s pocket. The Moiré Gobo Library lets users browse, search, and experiment with A-size gobos from GAM and Lee, with more to come. Adjust the focus of the gobo to simulate a blur effect, spin the gobo at different speeds and in different directions, and use the “TwinSpin” feature to overlap and spin any two gobos at variable speeds and in any direction.

The Moiré Gobo Library, which also works on the iPod touch, lets the user:

• View gobos on a white or black background, simulating the look of the gobo itself or the image it produces on a dark stage
• Search gobos by name and number
• Sort gobos by name and number in ascending and descending order
• Maintain a list of 12 most recently viewed gobos
• Send comments directly to the developer with a feedback button

The idea for the Moiré Gobo Library came, in part, from the suggestions of customers using Wybron’s Gel Swatch Library, which features nearly 1,000 gel colors. The Gel Swatch Library was recently named one of Live Design magazine’s Products of the Year for 2008-09. It took home an ESTA Member’s Choice Award from LDI in October 2008.

“With our new app, you don’t have to buy dozens of different gobos and load them into a fixture to see how they’ll look,” said Scott Longberry, Wybron engineer and developer of the application. “Just turn on your iPhone or iPod touch, and you can play with hundreds of different gobos to see what happens if you overlap them, blur them, spin them – or whatever effect you want.” The app should be useful for a wide variety of lighting venues, including nightclubs, concerts, theatres, churches, cruise ships, and more, Longberry said.

To buy the Moiré Gobo Library for $9.99, visit Apple’s App Store through the icon on the iPhone or iPod touch, or go through iTunes.

Photos of the Moire Gobo Library App:

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Wybron Updates Infogate Feedback Software

We received a press release from Wybron today about updates that are available for their infogate feedback software.

More from the press release:

Wybron has released an updated version of the software that powers its award-winning feedback system.
Infogate Version 2.2, which uses the industry-standard feedback protocol Remote Device Management (RDM), makes it easier for users to visualize and monitor an entire lighting rig from a computer.
The updated Infogate software includes:

• Simplified layout for the Device Parameter Spreadsheet, the heart of Infogate, to reduce screen clutter but still give users the option to customize the layout
• Ability to maintain Device Parameter Spreadsheet layout when closed, letting the user set up, and keep, an interface customized for his or her use
• New ESTA status message, recently added to RDM specs, to report lamp and cable failure.
• New RDM throttle to allow users to reduce the number of RDM data packets transmitted along the DMX cable, letting more DMX signal through when feedback isn’t as vital

Infogate 2.2 comes with a licensing fee, and to operate the software, the user must purchase a special USB dongle from Wybron, said Vice President of Engineering Lee Schlais

“What’s great about Infogate is that it can be used so many different ways, including architectural installations, retail, and cruise ships,” Schlais said. “An Infogate system will let you monitor each venue locally, but if you have a need for remote monitoring, we have a server system that will allow you to see that data from anywhere in the world.”

Infogate powers Wybron’s groundbreaking Infotrace Control and Management System, which took top honors at the PLASA, LDI, and WFX trade shows in 2006.

With Infogate, users can proactively check the condition of equipment, receive error messages and alerts when something goes wrong, assign DMX addresses from the ground, and monitor an entire rig from a world away.

Infogate Version 2.2 can be downloaded from the Wybron Web site, and it’s also available on a CD. For more information, visit Wybron’s website, www.wybron.com.

New Nonprofit: Institute for Feedback Excellence

We received a press release on the announcement of a new Nonprofit organization called the Institute for Feedback Excellence.  The Institute was organized by join ventures from Enttec, Martin Professional and Wybron to Harmonize the use of feedback protocols in entertainment lighting.  The IFE was established to standardize the RDM or Remote Device Management protocol across the lighting industry.

More from the Press Release after the jump.

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Rumor Mill: New Wybron iPhone App

Our spy camera’s are every where these days. Including deep with in the mountains of Colorado Spring at Wybron‘s worldwide headquarters.  It is rumored that Wybron is set to release a new iPhone/iPod Touch app for lighting professionals any day now.  From the Mr. Blurry camera shot, it looks like some sort of Gobo library.  From what we can tell from the photo is that gobo’s will be able to spin at a scalable RPM as well as in or out of focus based on sliders on the bottom.  The gobo appears to be GAM’s gobo 206, Traccery Window.  We are assuming that the library would have all the major player’s that produce gobo’s but can not confirm it at this time.

When questioned about the rumored iPhone app, Wybron was quick to say nothing other then “How did you know???”.  While they did not directly confirm the rumor, in a way they did.  Look for more information to follow in the next couple of days.

Wybron Updates Gel Swatch Library iPhone App

We received a Press Release from Wybron that they have updated their iPhone/iPod Touch Gel Swatch Library App with detailed SED curves. Gel Swatch Library Version 1.3, which catalogues nearly 1,000 gel colors, now features SED graphs five times larger than the app’s previous graphs, revealing color details important to today’s lighting production personnel. Each SED graph displays a color’s wavelengths in nanometers, ranging from 400 to 700 nanometers and marked every 10 nanometers. Each graph also displays a color’s light transmission percentages marked in 10-percent increments.

Changes made in Version 1.3

• Full Screen viewing enabled by shaking the iPhone
• Ability to clear “Recently Viewed Colors” List
• Ability to turn off sounds
• New Splash Screen

The update to the Gel Swatch Library App will be free for current users that own the app already.  The updated will be loaded to the itunes store with in the week.  For new users, visit the iTunes App Store to purchase your copy of Gell Swatch Library for $9.99.

Wybron Announces New Shop Online Feature

Wybron, the makers of color mixing products just announced the start of a new shop online feature of their website, www.wybron.com. Users are able to log on to purchase almost any product that Wybron offers in their entire product line.  Some products are still listed as POA or only available through their dealer network.  All prices are the standard MSRP or retail price with no price breaks.  Purchases are only able to be completed with a credit card.

This offers users the ability to purchase Wybron products directly from them.  Users can still purchase Wybron products from the Wybron dealer network at a possiable discount.  For more information, contact Wybron directly through their website at www.wybron.com.  To locate a Wybron dealer near you, visit their dealer section.

Infogate for the iPhone/iPod Touch

Wybron is poised to release the Infogate App for the iPhone and iPod Touch in the iTunes App Store. With the Infogate App, you will be able to monitor and control your lighting rig from virtually anywhere in the building.

Infogate for the iPhone takes the easy-to-use graphical interface from Wybron’s infotrace feedback system and shrinks it down to size for the iPhone and iPod Touch. With the interface now on the iPhone, you will no longer be tied to board, booth or computer to receive RDM information from the infogate system. USe the iPhone + Infogate app to examine and manipulate your fixtures whole onstage, backstage or in the green room, (that is if there is WiFi coverage!).

With Infogate for the iPhone:

• Discover every piece of equipment on your lighting rig
• Manipulate it while standing onstage
• Examine its status and performance
• Assign (or change) its DMX address
• … and more.

The system’s sensors detect:

• Temperature
• Fan speed
• Voltage
• Lamp status
• … and more.

To learn more about the Wybron Infogate system or the Infogate App for the iPhone/iPod Touch, make sure to visit Wybron’s website at www.wybron.com. Look for the Infogate App to come to the iTunes App Store in the near future. We’ll make sure to update our readers here.