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The Evolution of Visualizers Continues

The virtual working environment created by wysiwyg for lighting pre-viz...

The Evolution of Visualizers Continues

Recently I was asked about the difference between visualizers and which one would be best to choose for pre-viz (pre-programming a show). Those questions are not as easy to answer as they once may have been. For many years, lighting designers and programmers had only a few choices for pre-programming a show. And video engineers essentially had even fewer than that. All of that has changed, however, in the last few years. Visualizers, or pre-visualization software applications, are now available in practically all aspects of the entertainment and design fields. Which then leads to the questions, “What are they used for?” and “Which one do I need?” Let’s take a closer look at how the one-time “visualizer” has evolved into an array of powerful design tools for lighting and video designers.

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The 4K Blu-Ray: Much More than Pixels

The 4K Blu-Ray: Much More than Pixels

I’ve written extensively about 4K (also known as UHD) over the last few years, and the weak link isn’t the quality or the price of the televisions — it’s the content. To get 4K content onto a 4K display, there are only a few options available. You can connect a 4K-capable PC to the UHD monitor, using HDMI or Display Port, or you can connect several of the industry’s advanced 4K video processors to a small group of professional 4K monitors, using four DVI single-link connections or two DVI dual-link connections.

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Atomos Ronin Portable Video Recorder and Monitor. The unit is available in standalone and rackmount versions.

Atomos Ronin Portable Video Recorder and Monitor

I’ve been uttering the phrase, “That’s my new favorite piece of gear” a lot these days. Any time I get something that makes my gig instantly easier — I’ll take it! Case in point: my most recent gear purchase, the Ronin from Atomos. They’ve made quite a name for themselves in the DSLR market producing small, inexpensive off-camera video recorders, but the Ronin is a bit of a different beast — and by far my new favorite piece of gear.

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ADJ 3 Sixty 2R

ADJ 3 Sixty 2R

ADJ has been stepping up their game in the professional grade segment of their business with the introduction of the 3 Sixty 2R split head moving light.  The company’s goal: to offer a wide range of products for every segment of the market from entry level to professional and installation markets. The 3 Sixty 2R, first featured at LDI 2013, is aimed at lighting pros aiming for both affordability and an array of amazing looks.

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The W1 packs 126 white LEDs in seven modules. Six of the seven modules can move independently

High End Systems Shapeshifter Series

In recent years, automated lighting fixtures utilizing LED technology have begun to evolve beyond wash fixtures into more dynamic visual effects. As many manufacturers continue to strive toward creating brighter and brighter LED profile fixtures, LED wash fixtures have tended to be pretty much the same. That is, until the Shapeshifter. I recently traveled to Austin, TX to spend some time with engineering innovator and Shapeshifter creator Richard Belliveau of High End Systems to learn more about this promising new fixture.

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Complete Production Resources Lights Up Firestone Live in Orlando with Chauvet Professional Gear

Complete Production Resources Lights Up Firestone Live in Orlando with Chauvet Professional Gear

ORLANDO – Firestone Live, a 20,000 square foot venue that rose to prominence in the 1990s, recently completed an extensive remodeling that lowered the club’s stage and included a new trussing rig to expand the space available for the overhead lighting system. Working with a design from Impulse Creative Group, Complete Production Resources equipped the venue with sixteen Legend 412 RGBW LED moving washes, eight Q-Wash 436Z LED RGBW moving washes, eight Legend 330SR Spot moving fixtures, eight COLORado 1-Tri Tour par-style fixtures and one Amhaze II water-based haze machine.  A grandMA on a PC with a fader wing controls the rig.

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RC4 Wireless' RC4WMagic Series 3

RC4 Wireless’ RC4WMagic Series 3

When I first looked at the various items in the package from RC4 Wireless, I was unsure how groundbreaking this system would be beyond providing miniscule applications of wireless data and dimming. However, within minutes of watching the start-up tutorial videos, I realized that this product would be much more than that. The modern RC4 system is a highly configurable, multi-functional, powerful set of tools that electricians, scenic/lighting/props designers, and multimedia artists should definitely take note.

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Clay Paky Supersharpy

Supersharpy Fixtures Make U.S. Debut at NYFOL

BROOKLYN, NY — The inaugural New York Festival of Light (NYFOL) lit up Brooklyn’s DUMBO neighborhood Nov. 6, 7 and 8 and drew such a huge crowd people had to be turned away on Sat. Nov. 8. Clay Paky fixtures played a key role, and the company’s Supersharpy fixtures made their U.S. debut.

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Clay Paky BAP 1

Clay Paky, Major and MA Accompany BAP on tour

COLOGNE, Germany – Since songwriter Wolfgang Niedecken formed BAP in the late 1970s, the band has released 16 studio albums and the band members have performed around the world. The band’s latest tour, “BAP zieht den Stecker,” may translate to “BAP pulls the plug,” but LD Peter Seifertur (Cue Design) saw to it that the band was still well-lit. For their open-air concert at Salzkotten, near Paderborn, Seifertur specified a rig that included a variety of Clay Paky fixtures.

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Bandit Lites provided Martin MAC 2000 Profiles and Washes, Coemar Infinity washes, Chauvet Professional Legend 230SR Beams, Color Kinetics iW Blasts, GRN Par 64 and GRN washes and two grandaMA 1 full consoles for control.

Bandit Lites Supplies Gear for University of Kentucky’s Big Blue Madness Event

LEXINGTON, KY – For the University of Kentucky’s annual basketball season opening scrimmage known as “Midnight Madness” and “Big Blue Madness,” held during the college’s recruiting weekend in 23,500-capacity Rupp Arena, Bandit Lites provided a special-event lighting rig. It included Martin MAC 2000 Profiles and Washes, Coemar Infinity washes, Chauvet Professional Legend 230SR Beams, Color Kinetics iW Blasts, GRN Par 64 and GRN washes and two grandaMA 1 full consoles for control.

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