19 minute read
Regional Round Up
PROTEC INVESTS IN ROBE
Protec Group’s Dubai branch has invested in Robe moving lights, delivering and deploying a range of fixtures including BMFLs, Pointes, MegaPointes, Spikies and RoboSpot systems on various projects over the past two years. The purchases have been spearheaded by Protec’s Head of Lighting and recent winner of the 2019 TPMEA Award for Lighting Designer of the Year, Aaron Russ. He explained that it was a case of the right product at the right time with Robe. Obviously, the company had other moving lights in stock up until this point, but the first batch of 96 Pointes were sourced to replace a competitor beam light product, together with 48 Spikies on the same order. Then in 2018, for the ground-breaking Opening Ceremony of the Qiddiya Theme Park in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a design by US-based LD John Featherstone of Lightswitch, a powerful wash light was needed – so Protec purchased 24 BMFL XF Washes with the barn door module. “Every design we receive from John specifies a lot of Robe,” commented Russ. Also delivered by Robe Middle East with this second batch of luminaires were another 24 Pointes and 12 MegaPointes. The next purchase was two RoboSpot base stations with two BMFL Blades luminaires and separate motions cameras
Protec’s Aaron Russ with Robe’s Elie Battah.
to be used specifically as remote-controlled followspots. “I love them; they work really well – especially outdoors in adverse weather conditions,” commented Russ. “In fact, I’ve never had to send a Robe fixture back to be repaired – they are really tough and, believe me, we’ve beaten them up enough times in terms of harsh operating environments!” Russ thinks the products are generally well designed and have been engineered to make life as easy as possible for those using them. The crews greatly appreciate the fact that they are not “needy lights”. Fr om a design perspective, Russ called the optics “impressive”, commenting that he liked the flat beam field, the gobo selection and the fact that they make good workhorse lights for both theatre and rock ’n’ roll. He went on to cite the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Presidents Cup Football in the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain, as a good example, where he positioned 24 BMFLs on one of the balcony handrails at the top of the seating bleachers shooting a long way down to the field. “They were completely still – rock solid – which was noticeable compared to some of the other lights on the job,” he confirmed. In addition to these creative advantages of using these Robe
units, Russ appreciates the support from Robe Middle East, which is headed by Elie Battah. “Robe has come a long way, especially in the past five years,” he observed. When Russ arrived at Protec seven years ago, the company was heavily invested in alternative moving light brands and, coming from New Zealand, he wasn’t familiar with Robe. However, Russ soon learned how the brand could work for him. “It was the launch of the BMFL five years ago that really alerted me to how much Robe had advanced in that short time,” he commented. Robe is now regularly on his designs. This includes the Opening Ceremony of the Nas Sports Challenge at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex in Dubai, during which Russ used Pointes, MegaPointes and RoboSpots amongst other fixtures – and the RoboSpots turned out to be the stars of the show. The event was staged in a room with no followspot rigging facilities other than flying a special truss, and the eight-hour-long standby times meant that having operators up there for that long was totally impractical. “They are fantastic ace to have up your sleeve,” he said. Photo: Protec www.productiontec.com www.robe.cz
VARI-LITE PROVIDES A WINNING TEAM FOR SAUDI CUP FINAL CELEBRATIONS
Called upon by event producer Maestra Group to light the prestigious King Cup Final in Riyadh, Lighting Designer Koert Vermeulen used the versatility of a rig exclusively from Vari-Lite to deliver his spectacular, stadium-scale design. His creation utilised 350 Vari-Lite fixtures including 100 new VL10 BeamWashes and 100 fixtures from the LED-based VLZ range. The King Cup, the highlight of the Saudi football season, was held in May at Riyadh’s King Fahd International Stadium. The event included three separate shows – a five-minute pre-match entertainment, a 17-minute halftime show, and a post-show entertainment featuring an hour-long set by Saudi popstar, Rabeh Sager. Vermeulen, of Belgium-based consultancy ACTLD, is no stranger to the challenges of designing on a stadium scale, and the variety of demands it makes of a lighting rig. Using six different Vari-Lite models, Vermeulen created a dynamic and flexible show lighting environment with depth and texture, for both live audience
and television cameras, encompassing the pitch and performance area, the audience seating and the stadium structure. Discussing his approach to the design, he said: “We are collaborating with the Artistic Director, Haitham Dghaili. It’s his vision we interpret. We deliver what is possible and then maybe add a few sparkles of our own on top.” The powerful effects capabilities of the VL10 BeamWash offered sparkles aplenty. Vermeulen positioned these around the outermost audience perimeter to serve “as beam lights and eye candy” and to illuminate the stadium’s roof structure and canopies. This was his first experience using the fixture. “The VL10 was a big surprise – a real contender among the other fixtures on the market,” he said. “It compares very well with them.” His extensive Vari-Lite toolkit also included the company’s latest LED-based lighting fixtures. In all, 30 VLZ Washes provided a low backlight wash for the audience and effects during the
presentation ceremonies, while 70 VLZ Spots were positioned around the stadium, in groups of six and eight, to cover the pitch area. “The VLZs met my expectations,” said Vermeulen. “They performed very well.” Delivering impactful beam looks from high on the stadium’s supporting columns were 50 of the popular large-format searchlight-style VL6000 Beams, while 50 VL800 BeamLines added to the audience wash. Vermeulen also placed 50 VL4000 Spot fixtures on the stadium floor, making use of the internal shutter system to avoid interfering with the on-pitch projections. Vermeulen concluded: “This was the first time in a long time that I had a full Vari-Lite rig, and they delivered – even above my expectations. I have experienced now, firsthand, that Vari-Lite is back with some quality products.” Photos: Vari-Lite www.signify.com www.maestra-group.com
NMK ELECTRONICS HOSTS SEASON KICK-OFF
NMK Electronics held its annual Season Kick-Off, bringing together more than 250 AV industry professionals. Held at Hard Rock Café in Dubai Festival City on 3 September, the eagerly anticipated event signalled the start of the busy events season in the UAE. NMK’s brand partners Astera, Avid, Ayrton, Bose, Clear-Com, Denon DJ, Epson, Furman, Luminex, Mersive, Neutrik, Shure and Terbly were all present at the event. The event provided a chance for the who’s who of the industry to catch up ahead of the busy season. “This event is organised to bring together the AV rental community and to extend our support to our partners, while also providing a networking opportunity for the industry in a casual setting,” Dino Drimakis, Business Development Manager at NMK Electronics said of the event. Senior Sales Manager MEA at Shure Chant Utukian was glowing with praise for the evening. “This event has attracted a lot of people from
the industry and is another great initiative from NMK,” he said. “Our schedules rarely afford us such opportunities to interact with friends and colleagues outside of office hours. Nights like these give everybody the chance to meet in a casual environment, connect and get to know each other personally, which I think is healthy.” Avid’s Audio Sales Manager Ansgar Liem offered his opinion on the night. “The NMK team executed this event with true passion for the industry and the attendees,” he said. “The mix between high-level technical conversation and entertainment was perfect. I saw many interesting conversations about varying topics for the rental and production market that gave us an insight into the local business requirements.” For Nittin Dargan, Regional Manager at Bose Professional, the venue holds fond memories. “Bose has been focusing on the rental market for past couple of years with the launch of ShowMatch systems,” he commented. “Hard Rock
Cafe, Dubai, was one of the first global marquee project for ShowMatch. We are now working closely with our distributor NMK to grow this segment here in UAE.” Abdulnassir Ali, Sales Manager for Visual Instruments and Professional Display at Epson Middle East, was also full of praise for the event. “It is an excellent opportunity to display what Epson does best and showcase solutions that can open doors for the rental and events market. We look forward to a lot of growth in the future.” And while the hospitality and entertainment went down well, NMK’s Drimakis was keen to stress that, at NMK, the hard work never stops. “With the dawning of Expo 2020, it is crucial for us to mark our presence in the industry,” he commented. “We want to let our partners know that we are here to meet their needs and to facilitate all the events that they undertake.” Photos: NMK Electronics www.nmkelectronics.com
RCF has appointed AVenger Electronics as its UAE and Oman distributor. “Since RCF had the entire range of professional audio products in its portfolio, catering for the installation, touring, MI and evacuation segments, they were our preferred choice for servicing the markets in the UAE and Oman,” stated AVenger Sales Manager, Joseph Ninel Rebero. The company had also done its homework and recognised RCF’s existing high brand value in the region. “We knew it was well established in both the touring and MI market,” Rebero said. With extensive knowledge of RCF through his time with previous distributors, Rebero leads a team that will be focused on brand promotion throughout the UAE and Oman. “Our mission is to focus on the integration market to bring RCF to the next level,” he said, forecasting that initial impact is likely to be created through the Live & Pro Series, as well
as the new business music solution products, due for release imminently. AVenger Electronics has also set a vigorous marketing campaign, favouring roadshows and seminars over trade shows in the Middle East. “In this way we can give more interaction and product awareness with industry professionals,” commented Rebero. Luca Ombrati, RCF Sales Manager Europe & Middle East, added: “Having known Joseph Ninel Rebero for some time, when he informed me about the new company he was about to co-found with other experienced people in the industry – their appointment was a no-brainer. “AVenger Electronics’ decision to keep RCF as the unique and exclusive audio brand in its portfolio further confirmed our impression that they were best suited to our needs.” Photo: RCF www.rcf.it www.avengerproav.com
AVenger Electronics’ Joseph Ninel Rebero and Anil Kumar.
BOUJIKAN BROS TO REPRESENT JOECO IN LEBANON
JoeCo has expanded its reach in the Middle East by signing a new distribution agreement with Boujikian Bros. The Beirut-based company will now represent JoeCo in Lebanon, targeting TV production houses and live event clients. “We have been searching for JoeCo partners in the Middle East for some time and Boujikian Bros’ name came up a number of times,” explained Graham Murray, Business Development at JoeCo. “Their experience and technical expertise make them a complimentary fit with JoeCo’s philosophy of providing high quality solutions for audio professionals.” Gary Boujikian, General Manager at Boujikian Bros, commented: “We already distribute a number of top pro audio brands in Lebanon, but we had a gap in our range for reliable multitrack players/recorders and audio interfaces. We knew how JoeCo systems were being used in TV, concert and installed sound applications around the world and believed that it could bring added value to our existing offerings.” Boujikian Bros will target the local broadcast and live markets. “Boujikian Bros is well known in the pro audio markets, across a number of applications including studios for TV broadcast,
JoeCo’s Graham Murray (left) and Joe Bull (right) with Gary Boujikian (centre).
live events and concerts. All of which are appropriate for JoeCo products,” noted Murray. “W orking with Gary and his team gives us an opportunity to address these core market sectors and provides a wider and more direct exposure of JoeCo’s products in the region. Most of our clients are TV production houses and live event companies, and they are all looking for a reliable and stable system for their multitrack recording,”
furthered Boujikian. “Since we are known in the market and have good relationships with our clients, due to our outstanding technical support and after-sales service, we believe it will be easy to introduce this reliable brand and grow JoeCo’s business in the Middle East.” Photo: JoeCo www.joeco.co.uk www.boujikian.com
Sennheiser has teamed up with the Royal Opera House, Muscat to host a three-day event for rental companies, broadcasters, AV consultants, and audio engineers. Held in response to the growing popularity of 3D and wireless audio, the event saw the first Ambeo Cube immersive audio recording ever completed in the Middle East. As well as a series of educational seminars aimed at familiarising attendees with 3D audio theory, the most anticipated part of the event saw a live Omani band recruited to perform in the world-class opera house in order to demonstrate the immersive recording capabilities of the Ambeo Cube. “Today, we have all the tools required for breath-taking immersive audio recordings and mixing, and with the advance of Virtual Reality (VR), 3D audio has become, for the first time, a must-have for an application,” said Ryan Burr, Head of Technical Sales & Application Engineering, Professional Audio at Sennheiser Middle East. “The interest and appetite for 3D audio in the region is evidenced by the impressive number of attendees.” The first day of the event was dedicated to education on the nuances of RF theory, as well
as the dos and don’ts of wireless technology. This was followed by a session on the special microphones and equipment used to capture immersive audio, before the live Omani band took to the stage. The next session detailed the mixing of immersive sound formats and here, the team also demonstrated the upmixing of content using Sennheiser’s patented algorithm. The event concluded with the playback of the content created during the preceding sessions. Among the attendees was Philip Perry, Business Development and Project Manager at HiTec Center, who praised the Ambeo Cube. “The Ambeo recording method does a great job of maintaining the space, localisation, depth and clarity of the sources, and translates perfectly to a 5.1.4 immersive playback,” he said. “For me, it is the most enjoyable immersive listening experience I have had.” This sentiment was echoed by Bruno Silva, Assistant Head of Sound and Broadcast at Royal Opera House Muscat. “The Ambeo Cube recording method provides the opportunity for a more realistic recording by allowing us to capture the acoustic environment in a broader dimension,” he commented. “Regardless of how creative one can be afterwards in post
production, I believe the Ambeo Cube is the future of audio recordings.” Commenting on why he believes such workshops are essential for the industry, he said: “It’s very easy to read about recording techniques and understand them technically, but there is no substitute for a hands-on demo, listening session and technical discussion. It was a well-planned seminar, with carefully considered content, a great presenter and a nice venue. I would recommend this training to anyone in the industry with experience of recording and/ or postproduction, and to colleagues with an interest in immersive audio production.” Sennheiser’s Burr summed up the purpose of the event, commenting on its success. “With our workshop, we aimed to turn interest into action, which is why the larger portion of it was dedicated to hands-on sessions and walkthroughs of practical applications,” he said. “We have no doubt that we will soon start to see the technology expand from being a niche domain, to an established and preferred audio standard with the power to deliver unforgettable experiences for listeners and audiences.” Photo: Sennheiser www.sennheiser.com
EVEN2 EXPANDS TEAM
EVEN2 has expanded its Middle East operation with the hiring of three new staff members. The rigging company has hired Tom Jacobsen as Senior Rigger and Project Manager, Alex Franzetti as Sales Manager for the GCC region, and Winnie Orines as Office Admin. “We’re happy that we’ve found great new employees who will be assets in years to come,” commented Operations Manager Alex Eiben. “We expect more new faces to follow very soon.” Eiben explained how EVEN2 has been busy throughout the summer despite the typical seasonal slowdown. “The company is going from strength to strength; the operation in Saudi Arabia is up and running and was busy all over the summer,” he said. “Almost the entire Dubai team was engaged in projects in Europe over the summer, where the team also attended their yearly rigging training. “Getting our staff qualified is key,” he said. “We believe in partnerships with agencies and production companies. We want to enable our clients’ project managers and designers to have new technology implemented in their shows. “We can help with technical drawings, load calculations and technical engineering. We’ve assisted several companies over the last months with new engineering approaches and technical
documentation for venue approvals.” With the addition of more intelligent Cyberhoists, the kinetic movement stalwart for 15 years, to their already well-sorted stock, EVEN2 directly served notable clients and presented their accurate movement skills at the opening of the Handball World Cup in Dammam, HP Launch event in
Dubai and Blue Man Group in Qatar. “We’re listening to our clients and are ready to move with the market – we are committed to delivering our clients’ events with the best equipment and staff for a maximum of success.” Photo: EVEN2 www.even2.com
MAESTRA LAUNCHES BAHRAIN OPERATION WITH NEW RITZ-CARLTON ARENA PARTNERSHIP
Maestra Group has opened its first base in Bahrain, announcing a new partnership with the Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain, for the debut of the luxury resort’s Arena, a new 43,000 sq ft, stateof-the-art conference and exhibition facility. As t he exclusive event partner, Maestra will oversee all technical aspects of the new Arena. Maestra’s Tom Clements commented: “We’re excited about this new venture and to be involved in such a high-profile and well-designed
event space. For Maestra Group, this is a logical expansion of our work in Dubai, and it will also be the first step in some strategic expansion plans for Maestra Group in the Middle East.” Maestra Dubai has already delivered a range of innovative events in Bahrain this year, and it will work with several local and international clients in this new enterprise. “As Bahrain becomes a global destination for events, it’s our pleasure to partner with Maestra and unveil a new conference facility complemented by our signature Ritz-Carlton service,” said Bernard de Villèle, General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain. “With modern interiors and high-tech capabilities, The Arena stands to be one of the most sought-after venues in the region and a perfect addition to the resort’s already existing portfolio.” Overlooking the Arabian Gulf in the heart of Manama’s Seef district, The Ritz-Carlton,
Bahrain will be a fitting setting for the new 4,200-capacity multipurpose venue, which becomes the largest in the Kingdom. The new venue is designed to host all types and styles of gatherings and events, including conferences, trade shows and car launches. Maestra Bahrain will include a core project management and technical team as well as an inventory of sound, lighting, AV and rigging equipment. Maestra Bahrain will have access to the vast resources in the company’s Dubai base – both in terms of human skills, expertise, ideas and the latest technologies in all disciplines. “Our new set-up will allow us to service events utilising The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain facilities and services plus other Maestra clients in and around Bahrain quickly and efficiently with everything they need for a great event – from design to technical production,” said Clements. Photo: Ritz-Calton Bahrain www.maestra-group.com
Neumann&Müller’s Adrian Tudela, Sven Schuster and Matangi Sumbél.
N&M APPOINTS NEW AV SPECIALISTS
Neumann&Müller has strengthened its Dubai workforce with the appointment of three new AV specialists. “Since 1981, our valued clients have trusted us to help bring their events’ technology to life,” said Jens Giessler, General Manager of N&M Dubai and Senior Business Partner of the Group. “To enhance their experience and offer exceptional service and even faster request turnaround, we’ve expanded our Dubai team by appointing three AV specialists with an impressive 37 years’ combined international experience.” German video specialist Sven Schuster joined the company as a Senior Project Manager, bringing international AV experience to N&M Dubai, having worked on some of the world’s most interesting events. “Events for the Homag Group were pretty special to me, because the client gave us creative freedom and allowed us to showcase new and innovative presentation methods, like showcasing live content on cameras overlaid with pre-produced content,” Schuster commented. “The Dubai International Motor Show 2017 and the New Delhi Auto Expo 2018 were memorable, too. I’ve been very
fortunate to do great jobs from Spain to France, Italy to Portugal, and more.” Commenting on standing out in the event technology industry, Sven said: “It’s not so much about the devices or technology we’re using – other companies can use them too – it’s about how to use that technology to make our clients happy. At N&M, we set high standards, not only in terms of quality but also in terms of creativity. We really understand how to deliver on our clients’ needs.” Matangi Sumbél, a German audio specialist who started as an apprentice at N&M before being appointed as a Technical Project Manager in July, has always been destined for a career in audio. “I’ve known since I was five years old that I wanted to work with audio, or with what we call ‘knobs and faders’ in the industry,” he said. Recalling when he first got into event technology, Matangi commented that it all started with lousy sound at school concerts. “At high school, there was a band that had terrible sound quality because they mixed themselves and then started playing on stage. I asked them if I could help – even though I had no idea what
I was doing – and my interest expanded from there, leading me to study sound engineering.” On the topic of studying, Matangi said: “The business needs more qualified people, especially those with an understanding of the complex health and safety aspects of the industry. One of the things that drew me to N&M was the respectful way it treats its employees and clients, as well as its pioneering and safe approach to making extraordinary events happen.” Adrian Tudela, who joined the N&M team in February as a Technical Project Manager, started his career in Spain as an in-house theatre technician 15 years ago. “After that, I joined local crews doing outdoor live events, and my life became about trucks and touring,” he said. After qualifying as an event technology professional in 2009, Tudela went straight into corporate events. “I worked for big clients who organised events like the FIFA Club World Cup 2018 and the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, both in the UAE,” he commented. “I’m really excited to work on many more incredible events in the future.” Photo: Neumann&Müller www.neumannmueller.com
MATRIX LASER TEAMS UP WITH LOOK SOLUTIONS
Matrix Laser has teamed up with Look Solutions as the exclusive distributor of fog and haze machines and consumables in the Middle East. “Matrix Laser prides itself in providing world-class, top-of-the-range solutions to your events, from bespoke laser shows to special FX solutions,” commented Managing Director Michael Hilgemann. “With more than 20 years of experience and expertise, clients can be assured that only the very best quality equipment and consumables are utilised.” Hilgemann furthered: “High-quality fog and haze is an essential component to an impressive laser or light show, and to this end we have been using Look Solutions products for several years for the consistent quality and effect it offers,” he concluded. “German manufactured Look Solutions are industry leaders - a brand you can trust to impress!” Photo: Matrix Laser www.matrix-laser.com www.looksolutions.com
VENUETECH PARTNERS WITH LEA PROFESSIONAL
Venuetech has joined forces with LEA Professional in the Middle East region to help bring LEA Professional amplifier products to market in the greater Middle East region. Vice President of Sales of LEA Professional, W. Scott Robbins, commented: “Venuetech shares our passion for exceptional customer service and also shares our vision to advance AV technology as we are doing with our Connect Series product range, the world’s first IoT/Cloud enabled professional amplifier products.” He added: “We are very impressed with Venuetech and their commitment to support their customers from design assistance all the way through post-sales support. Venuetech has world-class infrastructure and staff to support logistics, marketing and technical support. “We are looking forward to mutual success for LEA Professional, Venuetech and their customers who purchase LEA products.” Audio Specialist of Venuetech Ismat Assafiri
said: “It is a very exciting step for Venuetech to be working with the most innovative amplifier supplier in the world. LEA provides a new standard in IoT audio amplification through networked communications with the connected product line, a flagship series that has already got the industry buzzing. “With our strong relationship
and similar-minded industry aspirations, we look forward to setting a new stage for professional audio amplification in the increasingly connected AV world especially the Middle East. We believe that this is the future of audio technologies.” Photo: Venuetech www.venuetech.ae www.leaprofessional.com
