InfoComm Creates Rental & Staging Staff Instructor Position, Appoints André LeJeune InfoComm announced the organization named André LeJeune, CTS, to a new Rental & Staging Staff Instructor position. LeJeune has more than 30 years of staging and presentation experience, specializing in staging for national corporations. He has produced projects that incorporate the latest meeting techniques and technologies, including large-scale sound, lighting and video presentation systems. Most recently LeJeune was Senior Director of Training at MVP International. He is also a former InfoComm Instructor of the Year, has chaired InfoComm’s Professional Education and Training Committee (PETC), authors training texts, and teaches industry seminars. The mission: LeJeune will lead the efforts to train member companies be better and be more profitable. For more information, go to http://www.infocomm.org/cps/rde/xchg/infocomm/hs.xsl/avindustry_6653.htm In my opinion, this is one of the most important things that will happen for our industry this year. I have held the distinct privilege of teaching with (and learning from) Andre LeJeune for over 20 years. He’s one of the best in the industry, and his move to teaching full time is InfoComm’s gain – and ours. There are very few people in the business who could bring our industry the breadth of experience that he has, or command the respect that he does in our market. There simply are no better choices in a teacher for our industry than this one. Congratulations, Andre. And congrats as well to Melissa Taggart and the educational crew at InfoComm.
–JRR Back to Top JVC Boasting Four Times the Resolution in New 4K2K Projector JVC says the company has developed the smallest 4K2K ultra high definition projector. Seen at CEDIA for the first time, the DLA-SH4K uses the company’s new 1.27-inch 10 megapixel D-ILA devices. JVC says the projector's chassis achieves a 65% reduction in size compared with others in its class. The D-ILA devices used in the DLA-SH4K provide a native 4096 x 2400 resolution—multi-screen display modes that allow users to view up to four Full HD screens at a time. A new optical design featuring an 825 Watt Xenon lamp generates a light output of 3500 ANSI Lumens and features adjustable lamp power that ranges from 825 to 660 watts. Two DLA-SH4Ks can be stacked for increased light output. In addition, the projector can be inclined up to a ± 90-degree tilt angle and has a horizontal lens shift of ±25% and vertical shift of ±50%, which enables flexible installation. The DLA-SH4K includes DVI-D (dual-link) x 4 input terminals. In addition to the RS-232C and USB connections, an Ethernet interface makes adjustment and installation from web browsers on PCs possible. Furthermore, networking allows multiple projectors to be operated with a single PC and an email function also enables the sending out of error messages and lamp replacement reminders. JVC will offer two lenses for the projector, the GL-MS4015SZG 1.22x zoom lens for screens up to 300 inches, and the GL-MS4011SG short throw lens for screens up to 250 inches. The DLA-SH4K is available immediately. For more information, go to http://pro.jvc.com/referenceseries/default.htm
Remember when we thought of 1080p as “high resolution”?
This new wave of digital cinema and high-res home cinema machines give us a nice preview of what we’ll be working with in staging next year – and the confidence to buy those high-res windowing processors and switchers, knowing that the display technology will be available in the market to really use them…
–JRR Back to Top Sony Demonstrates Single-Projector 3D Adaptor for 4K Projector In the “upcoming technology” department, Sony developed a single-projector 3D adaptor. Right now, this is designed to work specifically with its 4K projectors in movie theaters. Sony says the new adaptor uses the full height of Sony's 4K imaging device, with the ability to display full 2K images for the left and right eye simultaneously and in parallel, from top and bottom. The new lens units, models LKRL-A002 (X1.1 -1.9) and LKRL-A003 (X1.9 – 3.3), have optical and mechanical assembly for each left and right eye image. Sony also says this is designed to meet DCI specifications for 3D digital projection. When used with Sony's integrated media block (LMT-200), Sony says the SRX-R220 4K projector can achieve 4:4:4 RGB signal path from media block, while avoiding the "triple-flash" artifacting of some 3D solutions. It can also deliver a 60P 3D display that is especially effective for sports or other fast-moving content in 3D. Sony is touting this system as an easy way for exhibitors to switch between showing 4K and 3D content. The 3D adaptor attaches onto the lens mount of the projector, and is compatible with all Sony 4K projectors currently in the field. Sony says it can be easily removed or re-attached within minutes. The 3D adaptor is expected to be available in March 2009. For more information, go to http://tinyurl.com/42ncxc 3D and more 3D – once again, we see the future of the video staging industry – it’s high resolution, and it has depth. Producers, take note – as an industry, we’re ready to see the kind of staging content that will drive this into the market. –JRR Back to Top Dallas Live Event Freelance Group Formed A new group has been formed to assist freelance live-event AV technicians and engineers in business. The Dallas AV Freelancers Meetup Group is an avenue for networking, business assistance, social meeting, and training for freelance technicians in the Dallas / Fort Worth area. The group allows free membership to live event, freelance video, audio, lighting, rigging, and graphics technicians and engineers operating out of the North Central Texas area. Membership is also available to AV company employees who coordinate freelance labor for their companies. The group currently has 30 members with plans to reach 100 members by the end of the year. For more information, go to http://proaudio.meetup.com/25/ Back to Top
Christie Celebrates 11th Year as Digital Cinema Projection Sponsor of The Manhattan Film Festival Christie returned for the 11th straight year as the exclusive digital projection sponsor of the Annual Manhattan Short Film Festival (MSFF), which ran September 21-28, 2008. As the founding sponsor of the international festival, Christie provided the Christie Roadster HD18K 3-Chip DLP projector for screening the 12 festival finalists in MSFF's new location on Spring Street in New York City. For more information, go to http://tinyurl.com/4yedsp Back to Top
Daktronics LED Video Added to Brooks & Dunn Tour Media Visions added three Daktronics LED video displays to the Brooks & Dunn 2008 Cowboy Town Tour this year. The displays used 75 PST-12HD modular LED panels. Working with Media Visions, Daktronics developed and manufactured a set of modular LED video panels that combine to form a set of three rectangular screens, the main screen measuring 7.8 m high x 3.6 m wide and the two auxiliary screens measuring 7.2 m high x 3.6 m wide respectively. They appeared on stage behind the band, providing live video feeds of the band, crowd shots, video clips and raphics produced by Brooks & Dunn’s video director, Dan Hanson. For more information, go to http://tinyurl.com/46tvmp Back to Top
Barco’s New 20mm Outdoor LED Display Debuts at Singapore's National Day Parade 2008 Singapore marked its 43rd birthday celebrations with the annual National Day Parade held on 9 August 2008 at the Marina Bay Floating Platform. The Show Company, who oversees system design, specified the latest Barco T-20 outdoor LED display. The T-20 system was installed on site and subjected to operational tests for 2 months prior to the show. The stage was located just meters from the bay and they were concerned that drastic changes in temperature and humidity levels in hot tropical weather might cause system stability issues. According to the announcement, there were no effects on the T-20, and it performed well in hot day time temperatures, weekly torrential rain storms and strong winds. For more information, go to http://www.barco.com/corporate/en/pressreleases/show.asp?index=2130 Back to Top |