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Indispensable Technology

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With voting underway for the Parnelli Awards, PLSN readers have the opportunity to vote on lighting, staging & effects, and video technologies worthy of the name Indispensable Technology for the Parnelli “IT” Award. There are six products nominated per category and PLSN subscribers can vote for one in each category. The winners will be presented at the Parnelli Awards on Friday, April 14, 2023, at the 2023 NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA. Here are the 18 products from the three categories for your consideration. The ballot is available for voting at www.parnelliawards.com/vote.

LIGHTING

Astera – Titan Tube

Titan Tube emits powerful, tunable whites with ultra-high color rendering as well as colored light which can be applied to individual pixels or the whole 16 pixel tube. The Titan LED Engine contains 5 LED chips (red, green, blue, mint, amber) to deliver a broad color spectrum and wider color gamut with an output of 2,900 lm. It offers unlimited range of usage; flicker-free, indoor or outdoor, AC-powered or on battery, controlled via on the go with the AsteraApp, with wired or wireless DMX, CMRX built-in and is IP65 rated. Beautiful white tones from 1,750K and 20,000K can be reproduced and Titan Tube has a CRI (RA)/TLCI 3,200-6,500k >96. A range of mounting options are available.

www.astera-led.com

CHAUVET: Color STRIKE M Strobe/Wash

Color STRIKE M is an IP65 rated motorized strobe/wash with two ultra-bright, white light tube elements surrounded by a color-mixing, and pixel-mappable face. This strobe light can double as a wash fixture with 180° tilt range. The fixture has two omega-bracket attachments so its horizontally or vertically mountable. Multiple personalities—from simple set ups with a multitude of built-in effects, to wider control options of pixel-mappable zones: 14 in the RGB face and 28 in the two tube elements. Built-in alignment pins insure straight linear arrays. DMX, Art-Net, and sACN control. All LEDs feature 16-bit dimming for smooth fades and Pulse Width Modulation for on-camera use.

www.chauvetprofessional.com

Claypaky: SHARPY X Frame

The Sharpy X Frame integrates a four-focal plane shutter system with a 160mm front lens in a lightweight, compact fixture. The unit’s source is a 550W arc lamp producing deep and vivid uniform colors (including a deep red). As a hybrid, multifunction fixture, along with beam effects, it can also be a spot, profile, or wash unit with a zoom range from 2° to 52°. It includes a rotating gobo wheel with eight rotating gobos, a static gobo wheel, four- and eight-facet rotating prisms, linear frost, a color system featuring CMY, CTO, and a separated color wheel and six beam reducers starting at 0.5°.

www.claypaky.it

Elation – Proteus Rayzor Blade

The Proteus Rayzor Blade is a combination wash, high-intensity strobe line, and SparkLED FX inside a compact IP65 rated linear fixture design. Available with 6 or 12 independently controlled 60W RGBW LEDs, it provides well-defined mid-air beams up to 11,000 lumens or exceptionally wide and even wash coverage. Two seamless strobe lines of cool white LED dots flank the lenses across the entire length of the fixture. These dual strobe arrays offer incredible visual effects with a multitude of integrated FX or precise pixel control. SparkLED background twinkle effects along with wide zoom and dynamic tilt axis add to its flexibility.

www.elationlighting.com

GLP – JDC1 Hybrid Strobe

The JDC1 contains a traditional single tube element created with LEDs producing a clear, bright white output. This is combined with a surrounding full face of RGB power, utilizing a large array of complimentary LED sources. The two elements have independent control able to be used separately or combined for stunning effects. An added ‘Aggressive Mode’ allows even more intense and super bright output across the central white light tube at the touch of a button. As well as a powerful strobe light, both the tube and the full face sections can be run continuously for high output blinder and wash light effects. The RGB face can be divided into 12 separate ‘pixel’ sections as can the white tube be divided into 12 sections; the whole array can be fully pixel mapped.

www.germanlightproducts.com

Robe – BMFL FollowSpot

The BMFL FollowSpot comes with specific features to provide both motorized movement and manual operation with followspot handles. Offering beams of bright output, the BMFL FollowSpot takes advantage of its wide 160 mm front lens and a high CRI 1,700W lamp. With a custom light source designed for Robe it produces an astounding 251,000 lux at 5 meters and has a wide zoom range of 5° to 45° with precise focusing. Manually or remotely controllable features include smooth color mixing and CTO flags, two color wheels, multiple variable frost filters, focus, zoom and quick pulsing iris. The BMFL FollowSpot is pre-wired for installation of the digital camera on the head and connects with the RoboSpot base station for offstage followspot operation.

www.robelighting.com

 

VIDEO

Absen – PL Pro Series LED Panel

Offered in multiple pixel pitches, the PL Pro series has high brightness contrast and high precision alignment along with a light weight. The PL series, both indoor and outdoor products, provide enhanced color as well as high refresh and high brightness attributes. With Absen’s UltraBlack Technology the PL series is known for extreme blacks, ultra-high contrast, vibrant realistic color and pixel uniformity. Integrated auto-lock and auto-eject systems, as well as inner and outer curve lock systems, allow super-fast and easy installations at the push of a button. The PL Series is a high-performance, broadcast grade, high-definition display with high-grade electronics and advanced mechanical design.

www.usabsen.com

AV Stumpfl – Pixera Media Servers

The PIXERA media server range is a 64-bit system for real-time media processing, compositing, and management, based on the core theme of usability. The line includes the PIXERA mini; the PIXERA one and two, and the PIXERA four, with its powerful real-time processing and extensive expandability. And if you have your own server and still want access to the full PIXERA feature set there are PIXERA software dongles. PIXERA’s render engine can handle video files up to, and beyond, uncompressed 8K and is ideally suited for playing back HDR or 12-bit content. PIXERA version 1.8 offers updated and enhanced timeline controls and expands the possibilities for realizing virtual production setups that feature XR, AR, and/or MR components.

www.avstumpfl.com

Blizzard – Iris GT Series LED Panel

The IRiS® GT™ Series LED video panels are engineered for peak touring performance and available with either rotomolded flight cases or 6m2 tour carts, featuring 3.9mm pixel pitch IP65 rated designs, and can be combined within the same wall for flexibility. GT3 panels offer high-performance processing with NovaStar’s™ A8s series receiving cards with HDR10 & HLG support, automatic module calibration, image rotation, and more. Powered by very high output NationStar® RGB 1921 LEDs and meticulously fitted to an aluminum die cast, CNC-finished chassis. Offering one-arm locking for easy setup and front-serviceable maintenance to both modules and the control box. Ideal for linear or curved LED displays with their simple, two-step locking system to adjust the desired angle (±10°).

www.blizzardpro.com

Brompton Technology – Tessera SX40 LED Processor

The 4K Tessera SX40 LED processor combines an industry-leading feature set and easy-to-use software interface with a high capacity processor. Offering support for full 4K screens at 60Hz with 12 bits per color output, it supports a zero-latency up/down scaler that matches the source to the screen as well as all of Tessera’s industry-leading processing features. These include HDR and Dynamic Calibration as well as Extended Bit Depth, HFR+ (High Frame Rate), Frame Remapping, and more. In addition, the well-known On Screen Color Adjustment (OSCA) for color mismatch corrections; Dark Magic for dark area detailing and ChromaTune for video color replacement are also available. Stacking can be used to control multiple SX40 processors as one.

www.bromptontech.com

INFiLED – Titan X LED Panel

With a pixel pitch of 8.33mm, the TITAN-X8 LED panel has a high transparency rate of 70% for blow through screen applications as well as resisting wind speeds of 20M/sec. The panels can be assembled quicker due to each panel measuring 1,200 x 1,200mm and have ±15˚ of curving ability. It offers extensive load capacity and advanced overall stability due to its unique rear triangular foldable wind bracing system which allows a screen up to 79’ (24m) high. The frame design also allows for climbing the LED wall for servicing. Larger panels reduce installation time with less panels required, and the unique design of the lifting system built into the transportation carts.

www.infiled.com

ROE Visual – Vanish V8T LED Panel

Vanish V8T LED panel offers an outdoor touring solution in a transparent panel design, with a transparency of 50% due to the minimalistic design of the louvers, PCB and LEDs. With its high-brightness LED and the high contrast of the black panel the V8T offers a great visual performance with a wide viewing angle. The ability to curve the LED panels provides freedom in creative designs. The modular power box and receiving card module make repair and replacement of spare parts easy and cost-effective. The side locks guarantee the sturdy and road proof installation of the panels and frames. The V8T has a robust panel frame to facilitate easy handling and fast building.

www.roevisual.com

 

STAGING & EFFECTS

Harlequin Floors – Liberty Switch System

Recognized for saving an enormous amount of time and money changing over to sprung floors. Liberty® Switch is an innovative professional multi-use floor system that switches from rigid to sprung—in minutes—just with the touch of a button. Liberty Switch is comprised of base units, with drive and control mechanisms, topped with Harlequin Liberty® LatchLoc sprung floor panels. This transformation is achieved by using moving carriages which engage with stop blocks on the underside of the panels to create a rigid floor and disengage to create a sprung floor. The modular system can be custom designed to incorporate features such as traps, lifts, and revolves as required.

www.harlequinfloors.com

hazebase – THE FAB

THE FAB hazer offers several innovations to haze technology, including improvements in fluid technology, cleaning technology, sensors that tell you when it needs fluid, versatile hang-ability, and QR codes for manuals and SDS. THE FAB Hazer is only two rack spaces high, fits in a 19” Amptown road case, and has a 2.8” full-color touchscreen display for easy programming, allowing orientation of the direction of the haze output or even to sweep the haze. Two blades in front can orientate the direction of the haze output. Two axial fans can be controlled from 0-100% and are extremely quiet. It also features 10/100 Mbps Ethernet with integrated two-port switch. Control options are Art-Net, sACN, DMX512, and RDM.

www.hazebaseamerica.com

Pangolin/Kvant – BeamBrush Laser System

The robust, sturdy BeamBrush series are a fully featured, high-end line of full color RGB laser systems, which require very little maintenance, and are designed to be efficient for all size venues, with power ranges going from 3W to 35W, suited for permanent installations or touring. Control of the size and width of the laser’s beam, in real time, allows instantaneous transition from razor sharp laser beam, to a wash light size beam. Realtime scanning effects move between sharp overhead beams, to soft, eye safe projections in the audience. BeamBrush lasers are integrated with Pangolin’s FB4 laser control hardware, allowing for control from a PC, lighting console (over DMX or Art-Net), or in auto-mode.

www.lasershowprojector.com

Stageline – ST100 LED Screen Trailer

The ST100 LED Screen Trailer comes with the same commitment to reliability, durability, and performance that Stageline is known for in the industry. Specifically designed and manufactured for North American roads, with the ability to lift the wheels off the ground, this screen trailer eases up the installation on uneven terrains as it can be levelled easily with an all-around camera system. Features include a 360° screen rotation 30′ above ground, the possibility to attach platforms on one side, and an all-around camera system along with a Speakers Flybay capacity of 200 lbs. per side, integrated banner supports, rear hitch or retractable bumper, and has a wind resistance up to 57 mph.

www.stageline.com

Tyler Truss – GT Truss

Tyler GT® Plus, the most versatile, Green truss, is the go-to, pre-rig lighting truss. Its profile allows lighting fixtures to be pre-rigged, thus eliminating fixture cases. The benefits include truck space and fuel savings, easy warehouse storage, faster load ins, and thankfully faster load outs. Sizes: 5’, 8’, 10’ and Custom; Fork end options: fixed vertical, indexable, sliding, and threaded; Accessories include: hinges, corner blocks, base plates w/fork ends, base carts, snap braces, compact legs, lift plates, lift frames, gates, wedges, 1 & 5-hole pick points, load levelers, rigging PODS, spacers, leg carts, U-torms, and I-beam clamps.

www.tylertruss.com

X-Laser – Mercury Laser Control System

Mercury is a laser projector control system, to allow direct lighting console control of laser fixtures. Featuring DMX+RDM, Art-Net, and Streaming ACN protocol, Mercury-equipped laser fixtures can be discovered, profiled, configured, and programmed directly from the lighting console. The design tools that are already built into professional lighting consoles cooperate with Mercury to allow designers to create looks and effects in minutes, which would take hours to program using conventional laser light show software. Mercury is the solution for large laser arrays working in conjunction with traditional moving-head fixtures—all controlled from the same console. It is a fully integrated control system, no external dongle/box required. Additional features include 400+ gobos and 50+ color/motion effect presets; four fully independent pattern builders per fixture and 80 DMX channels for single-pattern control; and 300+ channels for multi-pattern control.

www.x-laser.com