Sound Associates presented their revolutionary PMM-20 multi channel personal monitoring system which is easy to use and capable of up to a 64 x 20 matrix (www.soundassociates.com), Electro-Voice made a comprehensive presentation of the XLC-127 compact line array and the Line Array Prediction Software (L.A.P.S.E.) for use in accurately aligning the system (www.electrovoice.com), Vantage Lighting showed off the unique OEM capability of his company in the unique custom ballasts they manufacture for virtually any lighting need (www.vanltg.com), Allen & Heath made an interesting presentation combining a bit of their 30 year history, outlined their design goals, and focused on their new X-Zone mixing console (www.allen-heath.com), Extron made an excellent presentation on the function of video scalers and converters in demonstrating the features of their USP-405 Universal Signal Processor (www.extron.com), Rane spoke about some of the unique product positions of his company and their involvement with CobraNet as well as touching upon their new Empath DJ and club mixer (www.rane.com), JBL Professional delivered a compelling presentation on their new Vertec Vertical Line Array System and Vertec Subwoofers (www.jblpro.com), Soundcraft’s Tom Der presented a bit of their 30 year history as well as some of the unique features of their quality build and different market areas (www.soundcraft.com), and last but certainly not least, Yamaha (at 110 years old!) shared some of their market positioning in 30 years of making pro audio products including their new PM1D live digital console, and their DM2000 digital production console (www.yamaha.com). I’d like to extend our thanks to all who presented, and I encourage our readers to cruise these websites to learn more about what these folks are up to.

On to the new products!

There were a number of unique product offerings in the area of installed sound (as well as installed lighting) that were shown at LDI this year, so I’ll get right to them:

Starting off with lighting, the folks at SGM announced their unique Giotto Spot 400, and although we normally don’t get too excited about lighting fixtures at S&VC this one is truly exciting in that it is virtually noiseless and leak-less when it comes to light when the unit is in standby mode. Anyone who has been around moving light fixtures knows that they can make a great deal of noise. In sensitive environments such as museums, runway use in modeling shows, quite stages, broadcast applications, and many other noise sensitive environments the cumulative noise that these kinds of products produce can be intolerable, and when these noise level concerns are written into the specs of a job they can be downright impossible to achieve. In fact, this is the first lighting fixture I have seen that quotes a noise spec that is essentially lost in the background noise at 1-meter distance with 38 dB background noise present. With many other unique features such as the ability to detach the data cable and instantly reset the device to the data stream by simply plugging the cable back in, and when bumped the light can be programmed to go dark until it resumes its position in the correct orientation via the data stream, and its very simple construction and the fact that it comes in white as well as black (seems simple, but it is unique!) it really impressed me as the coolest light fixture I saw at the show. Take a look at it on their website at (www.sgm.it).

Another unique installation product in the lighting area was shown by Electronics Diversified, Inc. for use in restaurants, lobbies and small venues. The Small Architectural Twilite System (SMART System) is a single LAN system with 104 system wide presets and 100-zone capability housed in a small wall-mount panel, which has an LCD display. The unit can function alone or have 16 remote stations. It is simple to operate, is user programmable, allows for 9 DMX patches with 8-room capacity with 13 presets per room and is illuminated with an easy to read menu driven display. This device combined with conventional dimmer racks is all that is needed to assemble a fully remote controllable lighting system. Check this one out at their website at (www.edionline.com).

In the area of installed sound the folks at Whirlwind were showing off their new DCS88 CobraNet enabled digital audio transceiver. Deceivingly small and innocuous, this device packs some amazing features into a tiny frame about the size of a bolt-on speaker power module at only 10.75"W x 3.5"H x 4"D. Jointly developed by engineers at Whirlwind and Peak Audio, this little beauty features 8 analog inputs and 8 analog outputs accessed via terminal screw connections, RJ-45 Ethernet in and through jacks and RJ-45 remote control jacks and is completely self powered… that is it is powered directly by low voltage DC injected directly onto the CAT-5 cable eliminating the need for separate AC electrical drops at each termination point.

With this feature placement options are up to the designer and there are no electrical code issues to worry about. Remote control of mic/line level switching and gain control for each input can be adjusted on the unit itself or via the optional remote control that can be placed at the site where the termination is for user adjustment without having to request assistance. With added features on the remote such as LED signal present meters and clip LEDs the user has instant feedback as to what condition their signal is in… all this and 48V Phantom power as well! Check this product out at their website at (www.whirlwindusa.com).

In the area of amplifiers, Martin Audio showed off their new MA1.3 (650W into 4 ohms stereo), MA 1.6 (840W into 4 ohms stereo), MA 2.8 (1400W into 4 ohms stereo), and MA 4.2 (2100W into 4 ohms stereo) amplifiers designed to meet the demands of live sound and fixed installation. These amplifiers all feature Martin Audio’s Minimum Load Switch (MLS™) that allows the user to match the output power with the loudspeaker impedance. Utilizing advanced switch mode power supplies; the maximum power available for the output stages can be adjusted without increased heat dissipation or efficiency loss. For more information about these amplifiers check the website at (www.martin-audio.com). Martin Audio also demonstrated their new windows based computer program developed for line array placement called ViewPoint, which is designed to take the guesswork out line array curvature for Martin Audio line array products.

More in the area of amplifiers, Crest Audio introduced their CKI Series of power processing amplifiers and their latest generation of control system, the NexSys 4. The CKI series is fitted with the new NxEthernet module, which allows the amplifier to become a node on a standard TCP/IP network that provides control and monitoring of the amplifier. Adding the NxCobraNet module allows digital audio data to be carried via the same Ethernet cable as the control information. New features added to the control system by the NexSys 4 include gain control, sequential power switching, extensive amplifier monitoring including input and output level, DC and thermal protect, IGM and Clip status, power state, AC power monitoring, heatsink temperature, audio return and offline load monitoring. Check it all out at their website at (www.crestaudio.com). Also shown were the XR-20 and XR-24 line of rack-mount mixers designed for a wide range of applications including fixed installation and live sound reinforcement. Large console features such as four-band EQ, insert points on all inputs, subgroups, aux outs, six aux busses selectable as pre or post in pairs, and mic preamps on all inputs as well as the stereo inputs are packed into this small but powerful mixer package.

LDI 2002 Award Winners

A panel of industry experts has selected the winners of the annual LDI Awards, for excellence in the field of entertainment design and technology. Winners are selected from among LDI exhibiting companies and individual designers worldwide. This year, new product categories were created. There are now two different overall categories for the product awards; Product of the Year and Debuting Product/Promising Prototype. To qualify as a Product of the Year the product must have been released in the past year and be shipping. If a product is introduced at LDI for the first time, it qualifies as a Debuting Product/Promising Prototype. This award will honor originality and daring conceptual leaps.

The following products, companies, and designers were honored at this year’s LDI show as the best in the entertainment technology industry:

Product of the Year — Lighting/Entertainment
Entertainment Technology (division of Genlyte Thomas Group) Intelligent Raceway

Product of the Year — Lighting Accessory
City Theatrical WDS Wireless Dimming System

Product of the Year — Sound
Klark Teknik DN9340 Helix Digital Equalizer

Product of the Year — Rigging and Hardware
ACT Enterprises (distributed by City Theatrical) Moving Light Hanger
Honorable Mention: H&H Specialties Rope Lock and Safety Lockout

Product of the Year — Widget
TentTec, O-Bag

Additional awards were given in the area of Debuting Product/Promising Prototype Award Categories, and here they are:

Debuting Product/Promising Prototype of the Year — Lighting/Entertainment
Philips Lighting Company ST250HR Lamp

Debuting Product/Promising Prototype of the Year — Lighting/Architecture
Lighting Services Inc. BP150 Series Metal Halide Framing Projector

Debuting Product/Promising Prototype of the Year — Lighting Accessory
Derksen Lichttechnologie (distributed by Image Projection) Gobo Top

Debuting Product/Promising Prototype of the Year — Lighting Tools and Software
John McKernon (distributed by City Theatrical) Lightwright 4

Debuting Product/Promising Prototype of the Year — Scenic Effects
Pani Projection and Lighting Vertriebs GmbH E-Slide Video Accessory

Debuting Product/Promising Prototype of the Year — Rigging and Hardware
ACT Enterprises, Inc. (distributed by City Theatrical) Cheseborough
Total Structures Inc. New Wave Truss

Designer Awards were awarded in the following categories:
Lighting Designer of the Year — Entertainment
Bill Klages

Lighting Designer of the Year — Architectural
Steven Rosen

Lighting Designer of the Year — Themed Project
Tracy Eck

Sound Designer of the Year
John Leonard

All of us at S&VC congratulate the winners in all categories, and thank all for their participation in these events. Don’t forget to mark your calendars for next year’s LDI Show, November 21-23, 2003 located at the Orange Country Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Looking forward to seeing you all there!