LIGHTS • VIDEO • STAGING • INTEGRATION MONTHLY TECH NEWS CX127 JULY 2017 $7.50 AU WINTER IN THE ZOO Vivid lights up UTILITY KINETIC INSECT Robotics, sound, light, art! FROM TRARALGON TO THE WORLD: Live at Spectrum NEWS: ROADSKILLS: REGULARS: GEARBOX: • Altronics turns 40 • Sheppard • History • QSC K2 • SMPTE, Helpmanns • The Avalanches • New Gear • Presonus ULT15 • Nitro, chaos and comms • Goldfrapp • Biz Talk: Invest. In a mine! • Acme Stage Blinder IP Point Series Professional Install • ProCab for Audio • Tech Tools: • Tascam SS-R250N Enclosures Logistics Show Redundancy Admire the Architecture... Adamson’s NEW IS7 & IS10 installation array speakers–as launched at InfoComm 2017–are designed to blend into the surrounding space, so that the architectural design remains the centre of attention. For a demonstration please contact: [email protected] CX_Cover_strip_2017.indd 1 16/06/2017 3:20:45 PM INTRODUCING GLX-D® ADVANCED DIGITAL WIRELESS Exceptional Digital Audio Clarity and Rechargeability + Metal Rack Mountable Receiver Shure brought legendary microphones together with groundbreaking automatic frequency management and rechargeability with the launch of GLX-D Digital Wireless Systems. Now, with GLX-D Advanced products, House of Worship and education customers can rely on increased system count and robust RF performance in installed rack-mount configurations. Visit https://www.shureasia.com/go/glxd-advanced/en/ for more information. Distributed by www.jands.com.au Shure GLX-D Advanced Full Page CX Print Ad.indd 1 27/06/2017 8:14 am CX contents 127 2017 . 20 09 Roadskills Broadcast News Live at Spectrum Hot Brown Honey Feature Winter in the Zoo 28 Vivid lights up 47 NEWS 36 Listen Here. Keeping a lid on it GEARBOX 38 Tech Tools: Show Redundancy 06 Altronics turns 40 54 QSC K2 ACETA announces 62 Presonus ULT15 06 SMPTE, Helpmanns in July Convention 56 58 Acme Stage Blinder IP 06 ProCab for Audio Logistics 65 Fry: putting your back into it 08 Bodyguard 60 Tascam SS-R250N 09 Hot Brown Honey ROADSKILLS FEATURES 10 Bytes, Bits and Rumours 40 Sheppard 10 Nitro, chaos and comms 20 From Traralgon to the World: 47 The Avalanches Live at Spectrum REGULARS 52 Goldfrapp 24 Utility Kinetic Insect Robotics, sound, light, art! 11 History 28 Winter in the Zoo 14 New Gear Vivid lights up 34 Biz Talk: Invest. In a mine! • Cover photo: Tony Lukeman Published by Juliusmedia Group Pty ltd ACN Editor and publisher: Julius Grafton All contents COPYRIGHT CX Network Pty Ltd 2017. 134170460 under licence from CX Network Business development and sales: Steve James Nothing herein to be reproduced in any format Pty Ltd ACN 153165167. Layout: TIZAdigital by Karla Espinosa, Nadia Hidalgo without express written consent. Locked Bag 30, Epping NSW 1710 Australia Phone +61 2 408 498 180 Email [email protected] DIGITAL NETWORK cx-mag.com, cxmagblog.com, cxevents.com.au, cx-tv.com: Keep in CXtra, Gearbox, News, TheHUMP, LightTonight, Roadshows touch . facebook.com/cxmag MEYER SOUND AUSTRALIA | AUS 1800 4 MEYER | NZ 0800 3 MEYER [email protected] THE MJF-208 TAKES CENTER STAGE Introducing the MFJ-208 Compact Stage Monitor. Ultra-low distortion and impressive headroom with a low profile. Learn more at meyersound.com News July 2017 SMPTE, Helpmann in July Every two years SMPTE showcases broadcast technology and it shows for the first time at Sydney’s new International Convention Centre, in Darling Harbour, between July 18-20. SMPTE17 has technical sessions on the industry’s issues, like ‘High Dynamic Range - closer to the human eye’, ‘Moving to IP-based systems - the challenges’ and ‘Virtual Reality - a new frontier’ These are a few of a slew of sessions held alongside the Altronics celebrates expo which is worth a looksee. Google SMPTE. Meanwhile the Helpmann 40 years in business Awards come down on Monday 24 July at Sydney’s Capitol Perth firm builds audio gear as well Theatre. These are the major awards for performance. ltronics is in its fortieth that Australian manufacturers can year as an Australian still provide innovative quality Audio Logistics owned and operated products to the international GO PROCAB CABLES electronics retailer and marketplace. manufacturer.A In an era where so Established in Belgium in 1997, Director & Sales Manager, Dean much of Australia’s manufacturing Procab offer a complete line Stephens adds that many of Altronics base has been shifted offshore, of premade and bulk cables, achievements can be attributed to Altronics have achieved four connectors, adaptors, cable their keen focus on customers. decades of innovation and steady reels and cable accessories. growth in its commercial audio and “Our customer service has With a product catalogue of retail electronics businesses. always been the primary focus over 4000 products, Procab’s of our business. We enjoy having range includes audio, video, When Jack O’Donnell founded data and power solutions for Altronics in 1976 it was a small discussions with customers about our products, because inevitably it every application including electronics retail store in Stirling installation and touring. St, Perth with a wholesale division enables us to develop and design Based in Melbourne, Audio located in Subiaco. Initially it products better suited to the market. It is a distinct advantage of dealing Logistics distribute an was staffed by just four people. extensive range of pro audio with the manufacturer directly and Since that time it has expanded its and integration equipment. The operation to a national business not just selling products off the addition of Procab cables, truly employing over 100 people, with shelf”. allows them to offer complete retail stores in WA, NSW, VIC and “We are thankful to our many end-to-end solutions. QLD. customers for making this milestone “We’re thrilled to represent Altronics are also the manufacturer possible” said Brian Sorensen, Procab! The breadth of their of Redback public address products, General Manager of Altronics. “Their range provides something for everyone, no matter what part a renowned brand of quality feedback has helped to shape our of the industry you’re involved company through the years. We look Australian Made audio equipment. in”, said Adam Dullens, CEO at Redback is now used by installers forward to continuing to serve our Audio Logistics. throughout Australia, New Zealand, valued customers for many years to Asia and the Middle East, proving come.” www.audiologistics.com.au Publishing since 1990 06 JUL 2017 www.juliusmedia.com QSC K.2 AudioTechnology.pdf 1 4/19/2017 10:13:30 AM Encore! C M Y CM MY CY CMY K What do you do after you’ve given the performance of a lifetime? You deliver an encore, of course. Introducing the K.2 Series. The next standard in powered loudspeakers. qsc.com ©2017 QSC, LLC. All rights reserved. QSC and the QSC logo are registeredPublishing trademarks of QSC, since LLC in the 1990 U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and other countries. JUL 2017 07 K10.2 K12.2 K8.2 Worldwww.juliusmedia.com of K is a trademark of QSC, LLC. News July 2017 SHOWS Bodyguard goes off with a bang resh from acclaimed seasons Whitney Houston (who led the in many places, including movie, and whose songs feature) South Korea and of course the AND proved that she can ACT and West End, this adaptation will DANCE as well. The sound was fat Fplay Brisbane in July before opening and full from a L-Acoustics’ Kara PA in Melbourne next month. CX supplied by JPJ Audio from a design caught the show at Stephen Found’s by Richard Brooker. It was adapted gorgeously upgraded Lyric Theatre by resident JPJ senior theatre fellow in Sydney. Michael Waters. Provided you like the music (and Technical producer Frank Harlow this is the pre-condition for anyone always delivers, and this show is who buys a ticket for a jukebox LOADED with effects, fire, gas and musical) it was far better than whiz-bangs. The lighting design anticipated. The show was tight, by Mark Henderson was neatly moved well, and well adapted adapted by Trudy Dalgleish, and from the movie. It came with some had plenty of colour and movement. points of difference, but told the PRG supplied the goods. story of a mythical singer and CVP video did some good work her downtrodden (and talented) too, and we should also credit the sister – played brilliantly by live eight piece band who labored Prinnie Stevens. The premise is that unseen somewhere but who were someone is stalking the singer. featured in the final minutes of the Paulini Curuenavuli came close, encore, up on video. So they existed! very close, to matching the unique and stunning voice of the late Julius Grafton (Pictures from Bodyguard website, not Australian cast) Publishing since 1990 08 JUL 2017 www.juliusmedia.com Additive Lighting’s sweet success with Hot Brown Honey resh from acclaimed seasons in festivals a couple of iterations on how the set is constructed, around the world, Hot Brown Honey we’ve made it robust enough to be transported and returned to Sydney Opera House this June. bumped in in two hours.” With lashings of sass and a hot pinch of The main touring rig consists of six profile moving Fempowerment, this posse of phenomenal women lights (MAC Quantum Profiles), six LED wash smash stereotypes, remix the system and dare to moving lights (Claypaky K10 or MAC Aura celebrate our similarities and differences. XB) and six small LED Pars for footlights. In the Lighting this audacious platter of dance, poetry, Sydney Opera House, in-house stock consisting comedy, circus, striptease and song, was Paul Lim of MAC 700 Profiles and MAC 250 Wash were of Additive Lighting. used. Control is grandMA2. As the show title suggests, the set was designed to The hive consists of 266 x 24V warm white Led represent a bee hive with Busty Beatz, the musical strip in buckets with twelve 27 channel LED director, the queen bee on top of this hive structure.