MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
Stagerack: Build Your Racks Quick and Online, NO DRAFTING REQUIRED
Stagerack is a browser-based rack layout tool aimed squarely at touring and live event production. The pitch is straightforward: drag gear into a rack, get front, rear, and side views, add labels and color coding, and export a PDF project report to send to your A/V provider. No Visio, no Excel rack diagrams, no CAD software required. The device library is the main selling point — 7,341 devices across audio, lighting, video, and network gear… Read more
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
Hippotizer MX Series Brings 10-Bit Playback and SMPTE 2110 to MX Series
Green Hippo has refreshed its media server hardware with the Hippotizer MX Series, adding 10-bit video playback and native support for SMPTE 2110 and IPMX workflows. The MX Series marks Green Hippo’s first major hardware revision built around IP video standards from the ground up. For touring crews and integrators already working in SMPTE 2110 environments, this should simplify integration considerably — no more conversion boxes or workarounds. The practical touches here are worth noting:… Read more
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
LSC’s NEXEN Gateway Range Brings Sig-Net Security to Lighting Networks
LSC Control Systems is rolling out a new family of protocol converters that handles the usual suspects — DMX, sACN, Art-Net, RDM — but arrives as one of the first gateway systems certified for the Sig-Net secure lighting protocol. The NEXEN Gateway Range spans five configurations, from a USB-C powered single-port unit sized for a tech’s pelican case up through 4- and 8-port rackmount options, plus an IP65 2-port portable and a wall-mount version for… Read more
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
Araneo Studio v1.2.1: UI Fixes and a LumiNode Device ID Bug Squashed
Luminex has pushed Araneo Studio v1.2.1, a maintenance release with no new features — just bug fixes and UI polish. If you’re running v1.2.0, the fixes here are worth having, particularly the LumiNode Device ID display inconsistency and the cursor glitch in the Fixture Explorer search field. UI Improvements Selection groups now make it easier to distinguish between Online and Project mode devices The ‘Assign GDTF’ pop-up window is now uniform in size across different… Read more
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
BlackTrax Core Brings Real-Time Tracking to Productions Without Dedicated Hardware
CAST Software is lowering the barrier to entry for real-time tracking with BlackTrax Core, a new deployment option that runs on users’ own computers rather than requiring a dedicated BlackTrax server. For productions that have eyed BlackTrax but couldn’t justify the full server investment, this is the news worth paying attention to. Core lets you run the tracking software on your own compatible machine, though CAST is being characteristically tight-lipped about what “compatible” actually means.… Read more
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
ChamSys QuickQ+ Brings More Universes and Bigger Screens to the Entry-Level Console Line
ChamSys has refreshed its QuickQ range with the QuickQ+ series, bumping up processing power, expanding to an 11.6-inch touchscreen, and adding a new Studio model aimed at fixed installations. The original QuickQ line carved out a solid niche when it launched in 2018—affordable, approachable consoles that gave volunteers and students real control without the learning curve of a full MagicQ system. The QuickQ+ refresh keeps that same workflow philosophy but addresses the hardware limitations that… Read more
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
Spotlight Maestro Wants to Kill Your Paper Spot Plot
Australian LD Gavan Swift has released Spotlight Maestro, a browser-based followspot cueing system that syncs to your lighting console and puts every operator on the same live cue sheet. If you’ve ever watched a spot op frantically flip through a dog-eared paper plot mid-show, or spent tech reprinting sheets after every cue change, this one’s for you. Spotlight Maestro runs on a single networked computer and serves the plot to any device with a browser… Read more
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
Get That Hot Spot From An LED? Yes, ROXX CLUSTER EVO Blinder
ROXX has unveiled the CLUSTER B2 EVO and B4 EVO, a pair of LED audience blinders engineered to replicate not just the dimming curve of a PAR36 DWE, but the actual visual appearance of the lamp itself—glass lens structure, filament glow, and all. The lighting industry has spent years perfecting tungsten-like dimming curves in LED fixtures, but ROXX is tackling a different problem: what happens when the audience is staring directly at the source? The… Read more
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
Cameo’s ZIYA Series Brings IP65 Zoom PARs in RGBL and COB Flavors
Cameo has rolled out a four-fixture IP65 zoom PAR series splitting the difference between punchy RGBL multi-lens optics and softer COB Fresnel wash options. The ZIYA lineup gives outdoor-rated rental houses two distinct optical paths in matching IP65 shells: the standard ZIYA 200 and 400 run RGBL LEDs through multi-lens arrays with a 5–49° and 5–57° zoom respectively, while the COB variants swap in RGBALC engines behind Fresnel glass for that soft-edge wash theatre and… Read more
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
Neutrik’s FIBERFOX Line Gets Ruggedized for Harsh Environments
Neutrik has added two new expanded beam multimode connector variants to its FIBERFOX lineup, targeting applications where standard fiber connections would get destroyed. The new EBC25 connectors come in two- and four-channel configurations with a jam-nut chassis design — a departure from the typical bayonet-style HMA housings. For touring and outdoor production work, the X-TREME variant is the interesting one: double-jacketed cable construction with glass yarn that’s rated cut-proof and rodent-resistant. Anyone who’s had a… Read more
