Danley Loudspeakers Cosolidate Madisonville School District
Romeo Music recently designed and installed a new sound reinforcement system at Madisonville Consolidated Independent School District for the baseball and softball fields; utilising Danley Sound Labs’ new high-fidelity OS12CX fully-weatherproof loudspeakers.
Romeo Music Regional Sales Manager, Kevin Deal explained: “The original sound system for the fields used several small, ‘honky’ horns, which were okay for pages but didn’t do so well with music,”
"Madisonville played two seasons without a sound system! Romeo Music provides a lot of equipment for the school, and we’ve developed a good relationship over the years. The school officials lost confidence in the A/V integration firm that had originally been hired to install a new sound system, they asked us if we could provide that same service.
"The budget was tight, but Danley has bailed me out of other budget situations because I need so many fewer Danley boxes compared to designs with conventional boxes and because Danley boxes are, in my opinion, underpriced relative to their performance.”
Madisonville CISD wanted a sound system that could give clear, intelligible pages to each field with minimal crosstalk and that could capably play music before games and between innings. Covering the fields themselves was not a priority, but the school hoped there would be some spill for the teams during warm-up.
“We’ve had a lot of success with our Danley systems in the past,” Kevin said.
Kevin noted that it rained for fully half the time they were installing the system, an indication of the conditions the loudspeakers would endure in the days, months, and years to come. Kevin was impressed with the strength and weather-readiness of the mounting brackets and hardware.
Kim Comeaux [Anderson Sales & Marketing, area Danley rep] recommended the new Danley OS12CX, which is a shorter-throw box with a wide coverage pattern.
Importantly, it is completely weatherised, which would be important for any outdoor system, but especially so in the humid rain belt between Dallas and Houston. As soon as we fired them up, I was like, ‘yep, made the right decision!’”
Four Danley OS12CXs mounted on the press box cover both fields (two to a field), with angles and positioning so as to maximise coverage and minimise overlap. A four-channel QSC PLD4.5 provides abundant power to the system, with integrated DSP to allow modest equalisation and overload protection. Two new microphones and an Allen & Heath two-zone mixer complete the tidy system.
Amador Valley High School Stadium Turns to Powersoft
Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton, California, turned to native audio installation company Premier Media Integration; which specified Powersoft’s Ottocanali Series 8K4 amplifiers to power the system.
Graham Cooper, President of Premier Media Integration, knew the Powersoft Ottocanali 8K4 amplifier system was best suited to power the system while providing dependable audio game after game. He explained: “We never have to worry about Powersoft amplifiers.
“They are extremely reliable and I've never had a failure. When we turned the speakers on for the first time — even before we applied DSP — there was a class on the field and the coach looked and up to us and said, ‘Man, that sounds great!’”
The Powersoft Ottocanali's 8-channel count was more than sufficient for the system requirements. These channels drove power to two speakers on the ‘home’ side of the stadium, two on the ‘away’ side, one in front of the broadcast booth and one near the field’s Snack Shack.
Graham appreciated being able to power everything using a single Powersoft Ottocanali with minimal rack space, since space is at a premium in the stadium's relatively compact broadcast booth.
Graham said: “At Amador Valley High School, we don't have a lot of rack space, and electrical is at a premium. So being able to leverage Ottocanali's 2U-space, 8-channel count is a much better option than having to deploy four separate stereo amplifiers, which is inefficient and a waste of space”.
The Powersoft Ottocanali 8K4’s ability to support any combination of Lo-Z loudspeakers, mono-bridgeable channel pairs and 70V/100V Hi-Z distributed lines was another major plus for the installation.
Graham added: “Being able to run both Lo-Z or Hi-Z was necessary on this project, we ran the ‘home’ side and Snack Shack speakers in Lo-Z and, because of the distance, the ‘away’ side speakers at 70V.”
No matter what type of installation he is working on, Cooper is cognisant of the long-term value that Powersoft is able to deliver.
“I always strive to use Powersoft, even if it is an extremely tight budget, they never break down, they always sound great and are a great long-term investment for the client."
His decision to use the Powersoft Ottocanali on the Amador Valley High School stadium also means no on-site maintenance calls.
"My experience with Powersoft is that it is 'set and forget'. Even though they might cost a little more money up front, we find that it is worth it because we don’t get any negative feedback and our customers are always happy. Six months down the road after the installation, we don't have to worry about Powersoft amplifiers".
Daktronics and VITEC Forms Partnership
Daktronics and VITEC team up to offer powerful integration for operators of sports and entertainment venues.
The strategic partnership offers a unique and powerful integrated solution using Daktronics' Show Control System and VITEC's EZ TV IPTV and Digital Signage Platform.
The integrated solution streamlines game-day operations by combining centralised, one-button control over all viewing screens, making it easier to provide a unified visual experience across all visual campaigns, including IPTV and digital signage — intuitively and effortlessly managed.
Bill Hadsell, Product Management, Daktronics said: "At Daktronics, we empower our customers to create memorable fan experiences and to produce live events that truly come to life through eye-catching displays and purpose-built control technology.
"Integrating our award-winning Show Control System with VITEC's cutting-edge IPTV and Digital Signage Platform enables venues to engage with fans across all their screens in the most efficient, streamlined way in the industry. We're excited about the partnership with VITEC and the value we are bringing to the market."
Eli Garten, Vice President Enterprise Video Solutions at VITEC explained: "We are thrilled to team up with Daktronics to revolutionise the way content is managed, delivered, and visually synchronised across displays and TVs in sports and entertainment venues.
"Our IPTV and Digital Signage Platform is the first choice for any venue. From collegiate facilities to professional sports arenas, the integrated solution from VITEC and Daktronics delivers the perfect combination of a sophisticated, unique fan experience with an easy-to-operate control system — all powered by world-class hardware that's designed to work 24/7."
LCFC Plans Stadium Extension
Premier League club Leicester City wants to increase capacity and improve facilities at its King Power stadium.
The club's vice chair, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, stated the club is also planning on making "significant investment" in the stadium's surrounding areas. He said: “We are now in a position to begin a more thorough consultation on the development of King Power Stadium.”
Further Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha announced: “We must ensure that any future proposals serve to enhance that experience, not dilute it. It will be a major priority in our planning. We are only in the very early stages, but it’s exciting news I wanted to share with our supporters.”
The King Power Stadium currently has 32,243 seats. The vice chairman offered no details on how much the stadium capacity would be increased.
Next to Leicester City FC home games, the venue has also hosted England internationals, 2015 Rugby World Cup matches and its first music concert in 2016. The stadium first opened to the public in 2002 and was known as the Walkers Stadium before today’s owners bought it in 2013.
Original article: https://bit.ly/2vJcfua
ZDF Relies on Robycam for Football Match
During the friendly between Germany and Brazil, which took place on March 27 2018 at Berlin Olympic Stadium, the German public broadcaster ZDF has used the Robycam cable camera system along with a Broadcast Solutions production team.
Together with augmented reality elements, implemented by the graphics service provider netventure production, new graphic elements could be inserted during the camera’s movement in the stadium. Using these innovative tools, ZDF was able to offer its viewers additional content and information, even while moving the cable camera system in the stadium.
Robycam is a cable camera system that enables gyro stabilised 3D camera movements. Together with a powerful controller, the system allows movements in all three axes: Pan, Tilt, Roll. All three axes are stabilized. There is also an auto-horizon feature that makes the image absolutely stable in wind or swings. Unlike other systems on the market, Robycam has a fifth winch that carries the fibre-optic cable in master-slave mode. As a result, using the Polyspast mode the system is more variable in height.
The Robycam system uses four automatic winches, controlled in real time, and a sophisticated motion control system that allows millimetre-accurate and fast camera shots with up to 8 metres in all axes. The largest system has an operating range of up to 250 metres x 250 metres and more. Robycam is fully redundant and has all necessary certifications of DGUV17 / 18 to be used above people.
The next productions you can see the system live is the Champions League semi-final Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid in Munich, on the 25th of April. An additional and special use-case is planned for the event SportsInnovation 2018 (8 - 9 May) in Düsseldorf.
eclipse Scoops Sports Event Supplier of the Year
eclipse Staging Services has received the 2018 Sports Industry Awards 'Sports Event Supplier of the Year' gold award for its support at the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens Tournament 2017.
eclipse has provided full audio reinforcement across the entire site at the Sevens as well as extending its staging and full AV support for the Rugby Rock concerts. John Parkhouse, Head of Audio at eclipse said: “The Rugby Sevens event has a special place in the heart of the audio department, some of whom have worked with the Sevens for in excess of six years. While it may not have all the ‘bells and whistles’ equipment-wise of some of the more technical work we do, it is still seen by most of our crew as a highlight event of the season to work on. The Sevens is legendary on the Dubai calendar and remains unspoiled by time, year-on-year it has a really great vibe throughout the weekend.”
He continued: “With multiple audio systems at play throughout the various pitches for commentary and entertainment as well as a concert system, the awards submission focused on the effort and attention to detail of the crew who along with the organisers feel the pulse of the tournament crowd and help bring the event to its natural crescendo for the final match. So in this sense, we are thrilled to receive the supplier of the year award for an event that we always look forward to and enjoy being a part of each year.”
Martin Lubach, eclipse Staging Services’ General Manager, is delighted to win the award and commented: “We were honoured to supply to one of Dubai’s top social and sporting events. It gives the team confidence that we are leading the way in developing the sports sector in the UAE. Winning the SPIA (Sports Industry Awards) award again is a great recognition and it goes to show our commitment to the quality of our projects and efficiency of our services.”
The winners for the 6th edition have been announced and the awards presented during the SPIA Gala Dinner Awards on the 10th of April 2018 at the One&Only Royal Mirage in Dubai.
Ashly Assists LSU Gym Area
The new Louisiana State University (LSU) gymnastics training facility in Baton Rouge is among the world’s leading facilities of its kind, incorporating the latest training technologies and infrastructure with the newest in sound reinforcement and playback technologies.
Although much of its 38,000 sq ft are devoted to office space and support for the gymnastics programme, nearly half is reserved for a comprehensive gym area that is effectively divided into four separate audio spaces. LSU’s non-technical staff and athletes can easily operate the system from Crestron control panels driven by Ashly Audio Protea DSP, with power provided by high-fidelity, workhorse Ashly Audio KLR-series amplifiers.
Baton Rouge A/V integration firm Sound-Advice USA designed and installed the sound reinforcement system at LSU’s gymnastics training facility. “The gymnastics programme at LSU wanted a system that could accommodate many inputs across many zones, which required Ashly’s customisable control and its ability to work well with the Crestron interfaces that they wanted,” explained Richard Hale, founder and president of Sound-Advice USA.
An Ashly ne24.24M Protea Digital Matrix Processor sits at the heart of the main gymnasium system and interfaces with a Crestron control system to allow non-technical staff and athletes to operate the system. “Ashly’s customisable DSP and user-interface controls have always worked well with the Crestron systems we like to install in larger facilities,” Richard said. “At LSU, the Crestron control panels provide input selection and virtual volume faders that are easy for the folks who control it to understand and manipulate. It simplifies operation so the training and learning curve for the coaches and athletes is minimised. Based on our past success, it’s a recipe we don’t want to mess with.”
In addition, Richard installed two Ashly KLR-5000 dual-channel, 2,500 W per channel amplifiers to power a Danley Sound Labs subwoofer and seven Ashly KLR-3200 dual-channel amplifiers to power the room’s Danley loudspeakers, as well as in-ceiling loudspeakers in the lobby, lounge, and conference room. The versatile Ashly KLR-3200 is rated at 1600W into 2 Ohms or 800W @ 70V, so one power amplifier can power a Low-Z zone plus a separate zone of 70V in-ceiling speakers. Richard was also able to call on the Ashly ne24.24M’s surplus processing power to handle DSP in the athlete’s lounge and in the conference room.
Daktronics Builds Record Displays for Spurs New Stadium
Within its brand-new 62,062-seater stadium Tottenham Hotspur not only aims to set athletic records. The club has now made an agreement with Daktronics to build LED video displays for the stadium bowl totalling more than 1,000 sq metres.
This includes two screens in the iconic, single tier 17,500-capacity South Stand, each measuring 325 square metres – making them the largest screens in any stadium in Western Europe and among the biggest in the world.
Two additional screens in the North Stand will each measure 190.7 sq metres, while two LED video displays will feature on the South West and South East façades, fitted on the exterior of the stadium, each measuring 178.9 sq metres. Every main display will feature 13HD pixel layouts to bring extra image clarity and contrast for everyone that visits the stadium.
The stadium bowl will also include three tiers of digital ribbon – a first for any European stadium. The upper and middle tier ribbons will run from the East to West Stands through the North Stand, measuring 387 metres and 348 metres long respectively, while the suite-tier ribbon will be split into two runs along the East and West Stands, measuring 122 metres long on the East Stand and 105 metres long on the West.
Original press release: http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/
Robe is Hot for Sun Arena
The new 8,500 capacity Sun Arena in Pretoria, South Africa features a house moving light rig of 90 dynamic Robe fixtures, which are at the disposal of all events utilising the state-of-the-art multipurpose venue, part of Sun International’s Time Square development and entertainment complex.
Robe lighting fixtures are integral to a complete turnkey technical package specified and supplied to the venue by Robe’s South African distributor DWR to operators Sun International.
The Sun Arena’s capacity expands to 10,000 with a standing audience with the goal of attracting leading artists, performers and event clients from around the globe. The backbone of the lighting rig features 12 Robe BMFL Spots, 6 Robe BMFL Blades, 24 Robe Spiider LED wash beams, 24 Robe Pointes and 24 Robe LEDBeam 100s.
The lighting is being looked after day-to-day and gig-to-gig by Johannesburg based MGG, South African full production and rental specialist, who won a tender to supply full venue technical facilities management.
Robe luminaires were selected to give a nice balance between the powerful hard edges of the Robe BMFL Spots and Robe Blades and the rich and beautifully homogenised colours of the Robe Spiiders together with their additional effects. The sheer versatility, punch and speed of the Robe Pointes, arguably the most enduringly popular ‘hybrid’ effects fixture of the last decade, won them a place on the rig and the tiny Robe LEDBeam 100s can be squeezed in anywhere and produce massive effect for their miniscule size.
Apart from the Robe moving lights, there are six Robe ColorStrobes available and 74 LED PAR cans, complete with a MA Lighting grandMA system for control. Large amounts of Prolyte trussing and motors mean that trussing can be configured and rigged in numerous creative ways throughout the arena.
“Most LDs are very happy to see Robe and work with it on a lighting spec,” commented Johnny Scholtz. The brand is extremely strong in South Africa thanks to the hard work of DWR, and also on the rise in other areas of the African continent, “so it was an obvious choice from many angles”.
The first Sun Arena gig to utilise the new house system was the ‘Unison Celebration Show’ featuring a vibrant and diverse line-up of exciting and talented multi-cultural African artists, reflecting Time Square’s commitment to supporting South Africa’s thriving performing arts industry. Lighting for this event was designed by Francois van de Merwe from MGG.
Midas Covers Vitality Big Festival
Midas’ generators beat the ‘beast from the east’ to power London Marathon Events’ Vitality Big Festival in Greenwich Park, across the finish line from the inaugural Big Half, which Mo Farah won in 61 minutes 40 seconds.
Event management specialist Relevent commissioned 6 Midas sets for the contract, providing for stage production, the sponsors’ area, including a New Balance shop and a fitness centre, a run of street stalls and the production village.
James Hodgson, Director at Relevent, commented: “We have worked with Midas for a good many years. It’s an independent company that I’m absolutely confident about. The machines are very good, and reliable, and the Midas team is friendly and ready to dig in and help as required.”
The Big Festival build had to deal with about 3 inches of snow, sweeping the site to find the Royal Parks’ pre-requisite trackway for plant and vehicles. The ground was frozen solid so a simple job like driving a stake in was a challenge too, but conditions were perfect for the runners come race day.
Hugh Brasher, the Event Director, who completed the run himself, said: “When we launched the Vitality Big Half, we set ourselves a target of making it the first mass participation event that truly reflects London’s unique diversity while also bringing together the best athletes in the world. We said we wanted an event that was truly global and uniquely local and we achieved that.”