In Broadcast - November 2013 - 46

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

WWW.INBROADCAST.COM | ISSUE 25 - NOVEMBER 2013

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InREVIEW
PLASA London 2013 Cont.

46

aimed at all levels of the audio
industry, from specialist integrators
and contractors to retail sales teams
and end users.
As technical partner to PLASA
London 2013, Roland Systems
Group (RSG) products and people
took an active role in the AudioLab
Arena as well as hosting two
seminars at the show. The AudioLab
Arena is a new purpose built pro
audio demonstration facility where
"the latest products for club sound,
mobile and large format systems
will be showcased". The Roland
V-800HD Multi Format Video
Switcher featured at the core of the
set-up in the Arena which hosted
shoot outs from exhibitors such as
Adam Hall, Dynacord and FBT.
Mackie has recently updated and
expanded three of its most popular
and enduring product ranges and
PLASA London offered the first
opportunity to see these new models.
The SRM 1600W High-Deﬁnition
Powered Loudspeakers deliver
on Mackie's "Built-Like-A-Tank"
SRM legacy in professional grade
all-wood designs. The range
features enhanced Mackie digital
processing and provides new levels
of SRM ruggedness, output, clarity
and simplicity. The SRM550 and
SRM650 are available in 12" and
15" LF driver conﬁgurations with
1.4" HF compression drivers, while
the SRM1850 offers a powerful
18" subwoofer with integrated
digital crossover.
The new VLZ4 analogue mixers
now include not only Mackie's
industry-proven Onyx preamps,
providing the highest headroom
and lowest noise possible but also
deliver the rugged construction that
has established the VLZ series as
go-to gear for professionals and
enthusiasts alike. A new ergonomic,
high contrast design rounds off
the refinement.
Available in a wide range of
channel-counts, from the ultracompact 402VLZ4 for desktop
applications to the tour-friendly
3204VLZ4, there is a VLZ4 mixer
with the right feature set for
any application.
Mackie have also completely
redesigned their MRmk3 series
Powered Studio Monitors with
music-centric voicing, designed
speciﬁcally to reveal the full range
and natural character great music
deserves. Optimising features
include an enhanced waveguide
system for a wider sweet spot
and custom-tuned rear porting for
smooth, extended bass response.
In addition, the series has been
expanded to include the MR6mk3
6.5" powered studio monitor and
the MR10Smk3 10" powered
studio subwoofer.

DPA Microphones highlighted
the breadth and depth of its live
sound microphone range, which
now "caters for every eventuality
and offers something for everyone".
"Regardless of whether you are
recording or amplifying, we now
have a microphone for every live
miking situation," said DPA's CEO
Christian Poulsen. "The launch of
the d:facto II Vocal Microphone was
a major step forward for DPA as it
meant we could ﬁnally offer vocalists
DPA's renowned audio quality in a
beautifully designed, hand-held
wired or wireless unit. In addition,
we also have our innovative d:vote
4099 Instrument Microphones and
our lightweight, easy to wear d:ﬁne
Headset Microphones that are so
popular with theatre and musical
productions and are increasingly
in demand for live concerts where
singers want superior sound as they
dance and perform."
The PLASA Awards for Innovation
recognise products that advance the
industry by demonstrating a new
style of thinking, improving technical
practice or taking a key step forward
in terms of safety. During the show's
opening two days, 45 new products
were judged 'live' by an independent
panel of expert judges who toured
the show ﬂoor to view each product
presentation.
Eight awards of equal standing
were presented, as well as the
PLASA Award for Sustainability, to
the following winners:
Clay Paky for the A.Leda B-EYE
K20. The judges said: "The B-EYE
had a "wow" factor. It's an innovative
look and a modern retake on a
classic effect. It's also a fullyfunctional and versatile luminaire."
SGM for the G-Spot LED. The
judges said: "It's the first fully
weatherised automated proﬁle spot.

It's an elegant
and aesthetically
pleasing fixture
that will be able
to withstand
any show in any
environment,
and be able
to withstand
even the British
festival season."
QSC Audio for
the PLD/CXD
Amplifier. The
judges said: "This
is an incredibly
ﬂexible ampliﬁer
that can be used
in almost any
situation. It can
be sub-divided
and reconﬁgured,
and will work well
in installations or
as hire stock."
Flare Audio
for the SB18C. DPA Microphones highlighted the breadth and depth of
The judges said: its live sound microphone range
"This product uses
is more familiar to a pro user. It's a
a truly innovative approach to an agetotally different way of thinking and it
old problem. It takes the concept
encourages a conceptual approach
of reducing materials to a whole
to sound."
new level and the technologies that
Robe for the Mini-Me. The judges
have been adopted offer exciting
said: "It's the ﬁrst to bring a new
possibilities."
form factor to digital luminaires. It's
Bleasdale for the Interactive User
conservative in its use of channels
Manual. The judges said: "This is
and it's a digital moving light with
the ﬁrst user manual that people will
the simplicity of a conventional
enjoy using. It has a lot of potential
automated ﬁxture."
not just as a reference book but also
The final award was shared
as an interactive training resource.
between two products of
It provides a green solution that will
similar purpose and equal merit:
save resources, and it solves the
LumenRadio for the SuperNova3,
age-old RTFM problem."
and Artistic Licence for eSense. The
Line 6 for the StageScape M20d.
judges said: "They both solve data
The judges said: "We were impressed
management problems eloquently
with the simplicity of the user
and practically. They will create
interface. It ﬁts a point in the market
new ways of understanding the
where technical ability is secondary
massive data produced by shows
and installations in an efﬁcient and
to usability, yet maintains a layer that
understandable way."
The Award for Sustainability was
awarded to TMB for the Solaris
LED Flare. The judges said: "This
product will save loads of energy
by eliminating massive power
consumption of existing ﬁxtures
including strobes, audience blinders,
and wash fixtures."
Chris Toulmin, Head of Events,
PLASA London, said: "Year after
year we see the most fantastic
products being developed and
brought to market that can make
a signiﬁcant difference.
"Some are industry changers
while others, just as importantly,
are simply designed to make an
engineer's life that much easier. This
year's winners raise the bar again
and we congratulate them all on
their achievements."

ETC's Anders Ekvall presents a cheque for £17,500 to Light Relief trustee John
Simpson and freelance lighting designer Stuart Porter
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