ORLANDO — InfoComm 2013 took place at the Orange County Convention Center here, with 937 exhibitors showing off products and services within 470,000 square feet of exhibition space from June 12-14. This year’s event drew a record-setting 35,126 visitors, up 2.5 percent from 2012.
Along with the exhibition, InfoComm 2013 offered seminars from June 8-14. Attendees came from 110 countries around the world. Here’s a preliminary recap of some of the new products featured at the exhibition. Look for more product news to be added to this posting in the days ahead.
Absen (aka Shenzhen Absen Optoelectronic Co., Ltd), which has been operating out of Shenzhen, China since 2001, signed the recently-formed MVS LED as its only North America-based distributor. Although the alliance is new, the company has completed more than 6,000 projects involving LED displays in more than 117 countries. Recent U.S. projects include Revel in Atlantic City, NJ and MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
AC Lighting featured Arkaos MediaMaster Pro 3, Arkaos Stadium Server and Jands Vista’s ultra portable Stage CL and flagship Vista L5 consoles.
ADJ featured its new WiFLY Wireless DMX Transceiver, a wireless DMX transmitter/receiver in one. It operates on a 2.4 GHZ frequency and can be used at distances up to 500 feet with compatible fixtures in ADJ’s WiFLY Series. Also featured: the Vizi Beam Hybrid 2R, offering tight 4° beam angles; the Inno Spot LED, powered by a 45W LED source; and the Pixel Pulse Bar, an LED color strobe/wash bar with 5-zone pixel-control.
Aeson Event Technologies featured their Lumis Beam 5R, which uses Philips’ 5R lamp, along with their PH 3.75mm LED display and outdoor-rated PH 10mm display.
Alcorn McBride featured its A/V Binloop HD, an audio and video player that provides up to 8 channels of Full HD 1080p or 2 channels of UltraHD 4K along with 16 tracks of 16 bit audio. It contains no spinning drives, just removable solid-state media that store hours of HD content. Each channel plays back MPEG2 or h.264 video at bitrates up to 40Mbps and resolutions up to FullHD 1080p (1920 x 1080) as well as 16-bit stereo or surround sound audio. Alcorn McBride also featured its compact VCore controller, for use with up to 10 devices, which packs many of the advance features of the company’s larger V Series controllers in a three-pound package that mounts on a standard 35mm DIN rail.
Analog Way added the Ascender 48, a multi-screen seamless switcher, to the LiveCore series. It joins the Ascender 46.
Applied Electronics featured its custom power distro and a number of trussing products. Sister company Staging Dimensions shared the booth.
ASK Proxima, Inc., a Torrance, CA-based subsidiary of ACTO Digital Video Technology Co., Ltd., featured full line of portable LCD and DLP projectors, including ultra short throw models for business, education and church applications.
Barbizon featured LED profile fixtures, ETC’s paradigm control network and products from Total Structures, among other product offerings.
Barco featured its HDX-W20 FLEX, which can range form 10K to 20K lumens in output, and the company’s FSN series of high-res 3G enabled switchers, among other products.
Blackmagic Design’s 4K focus included their digital 4K Production Camera and ATEM Production Studio 4K, along with the company’s Pocket Cinema Camera.
Calibre UK tweaked their LEDView530 and HQView 530 switcher/scalers, introduced earlier this year, with new features including the ability to capture an input feed to save as a custom test pattern, for display as a customer logo screen or as a backdrop when no live signal is being displayed. Both products can scale this saved image and will geometrically correct, warp, rotate and blend it like a live input.
Calzone Anvil Case Company showcased its most popular road cases and also demonstrated its case-making prowess with a case that opened up into two arm chairs and coffee tables.
Chauvet’s two booths included product launches for the Ovation C-640FC cyc fixture, the Nexus 2×2 and Nexus 4×1 pixel-mapping luminaires, the revamped ÉPIX Bar 2.0 and ÉPIX Strip 2.0, the compact and precise COLORado 1 Tri-7 Tour, the WELL Quad-M battery-powered wash uplighter, the COLORado Batten Quad-9 IP bright linear wash, the COLORdash Par Tri-18 VW durable PAR-style wash light and the COLORdash Batten Quad-12 linear fixture. The booths were built with Trusst, backed by Chauvet. Iluminarc, Chauvet’s brand of architectural lighting, also featured a variety of interior and exterior lighting solutions.
Christie featured its JumpStart content management system with six outputs (up from four) and a 50 percent increase in resolution capability — now 15 megapixels. JumpStart has a 3.6 GHz processor, offers 16 GB memory and uses a 64-bit server. Christie also featured the FHD551-XG, the first 55-inch ultra-narrow bezel LCD display for tiled video walls with bonded Corning Gorilla Glass. Christie also touted its turnkey Multi-touch Video Wall Solution. For control room environments, Christie also featured its Entero HB 72 inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) video wall cube and High Brightness WUXGA rear projection light engine. Christie also touted the smartphone-controllable aspects of its various AV technologies.
coolux presented Pandoras Box Version 5.5. Along with tweaks to make the latest version even more user-friendly, Version 5.5 offers 3D projector calibration and integrates with web browser/servers. Also featured: Widget Designer Version 4.5, which integrates Pandoras Box display output with camera tracking, AirScan and TUIO inputs and also offers support for “swiping” and other gesture-based actions. Widget Designer Version 4.5 also lets users collect touch data from a large number of input sources, and new menu with an FTP server and client for managing or uploading files.
Daktronics showcased its 15mm, IP67-rated 15-SMD Surface Mounted Display. Also featured: the company’s new 6mm Digital Street Furniture display.
Dataton launched Watchout version 5.5 in collaboration with Show Sage, a Dataton partner. New features include hardware assisted synchronization, frame blending, dynamic IP addressing of individual computers, cluster naming and insertion of URL based images. Dataton also noted the availability of its WatchPax solid-stage media server, which comes with Watchout embedded on it. The hardware and software are compatible with recently introduced video formats. By plugging a WireTag transponder into WatchPax, users can also let audience members equipped with PickUp audio guides “jump into” the audio of a WatchOut show and remain in sync. The integration of WireTag and Pickup is not proprietary to WatchPax, so they can also be incorporated in existing AV systems that deploy WatchOut and associated computing hardware.
Digital Projection (DP) previewed its 3-chip Mercury 930 3D series. Along with advanced image warp and blend, native 1920 x 1080 (1080p) or 1920 x 1200 (WUXGA) resolution and new 3D capabilities, they range from 13,500 to 14,500 lumens in brightness. DP also unveiled the 20,000 lumen Titan Quad 2000 “Super Quad” series, enhanced the brightness of its single-chip M-Vision LED 1000 and launched its budget-priced 3D-capable 3-chip HIGHlite projectors. Also new: the bright, dual-lamp Titan 930 series and E-Vision projectors with advanced 3D capabilities and HDBaseT support.
displayLED showcased its new Image Optimization Technology (IOT), featured in the company’s latest digiLED MK7 products. It is designed to ensure 16 bit grayscale depth regardless of brightness, along with beyond-DVI color reproduction. The company’s MC/K series of products have also been updated with a new black edge high brightness chip for improved contrast and outdoor performance. displayLED also featured its MK5, digiFLEX and CS5.0 5mm products. Finally, the company showed off a standard digiLED 500-by-500mm module outfitted with 3.9mm HRi3, part of a forthcoming collection of products with two additional options in terms of screen resolution later this year.
Flex Rental Solutions featured Flex4, their web based rental software for the live event industry.
Eilon Engineering showcased the real-time monitoring capabilities of its Ron StageMaster load cell monitoring system for overhead loads.
Elation displayed the Volt Q3 and Q5 RGBW LED color-changing fixtures, the Rayzor Q7 and Q12, the Satura Spot LED Pro and Capture Lighting Design Software, which it now distributes to North America. With a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and wireless DMX receiver, the Volt Q3, with three 15W, 100,000-hour Quad Color LEDs and Volt Q5, with five of the same LEDs, can be taken anywhere — no power cords or DMX cables required. The Satura Spot LED Pro, a moving light fixture with a 300W LED light source, promises RGBW-blended output comparable to 575W discharge fixtures. Features include a 12°-38° zoom, two gobo wheels, a 3-facet rotating prism, frost filter, iris, motorized focus, 540°/630° pan, 245° tilt, wireless EWDMX receiver, 3 DMX channel modes, microphone for sound activated programs, and multi-voltage capabilities (AC 100-240V, 50/60 Hz).
Georgia Cases featured specialty transport solutions from the Pelican Cases product line in addition to its other standard and custom road cases.
GLP introduced the new impression X4, built with 19 Osram Quad Optic 15W RGBW LEDs, along with the new 300W RGB LED Volkslicht Spot.
G-Lux displayed off their indoor rated LED display systems, the 10mm and 15mm Mesh curtain and their IP65 rated 6mm LED Display Wall.
Johnson Systems showed their latest relay/dimmer pack, the J-Pack, offering either 3 or 6 channels of DMX relay or dimmers.
Leprecon featured Watson power management devices designed for LED fixtures and showcased their LPC DMX lighting control consoles.
Lightronics previewed its FXLD1019FRP514 LED stage light, featuring two concentric rings of five-in-one (red, green, blue, white and amber) LED modules — 18 in all. Along with the ability to blend colors, the addition of amber enriches staging looks such as those simulating firelight on stage.
Littlite showed a new desk light, the 2W dimmable Anser. It is available in 12”, 18” or 24” chassis, desk mount or USB powered versions.
Luminex Network Intelligence, a Belgium-based developer of lighting control, pro audio and video data distribution equipment, made its InfoComm debut showing its new GigaCore 12, GigaCore 14R and GigaCore 16Xt Ethernet switches with updated web-based user interface.
Martin showcased the latest additions to its MAC Viper Family and the first fixtures in the company’s RUSH range of affordable effect lighting fixtures. Martin also displayed its EC Series of LED video panels and the Exterior 400 range of outdoor LED lighting fixtures.
Mega Systems, Inc. exhibited with Dicolor and RGBlink. Dicolor offered three series of LED displays and RGBlink displayed its line of LED panel controlling processors. Mega-Lite products could also be seen at other booths, including those featuring D.A.S., TAF, Stagemaker and Leviton products. Featured products included the DRAMA LED Q170, an LED ellipsoidal fixture; and Target Q190 LED wash fixture with three rings of control for a bulls-eye effect.
NanoLumens featured its NanoSlim DS and NanoFlex DS Series large-format LED displays, designed for use in virtually any shape, size or curvature that might be required. They are available in 4mm, 5mm and 6mm pixel pitches.
Navigator Systems demonstrated their latest version of HireTrack rental and inventory tracking software.
OmniSistem featured the Thin Par Passport, a 12-LED fixture with built-in battery and wireless DMX. The company also featured the FLEX 15 LED Screen, a 15mm curved screen and well as 20mm LED Panels. They launched the first product in their new Spark series, the Spark7, a 12W 7 LED mini moving yoke. Omnisistem also previewed a 5-in-1, compact wireless uplighting fixture. The Magnum-44 illuminated the booth with its 44 1W RGBAW LEDs.
Panasonic displayed a new line of interactive plasma displays, the first Panasonic interactive ultra-short throw projector, an ultra-bright WUXGA single chip DLP projector and a new outdoor-ready ultra-bright LCD display. The company also offered booth demos of interactive tools, wireless connectivity with Toughpad rugged tablets and Toughbook mobile computers, HD video production equipment, high brightness short throw projection as well as a large video wall for digital signage. Projectors included the PT-RZ475U with a fixed short throw lens and new laser/LED light-source; the PT-DZ870U Series (PT-DZ870UK, PT-DW830UK and PT-DX100UK) and DLE030 Ultra Short-Throw Lens; and the PT-CW330 Ultra Short-Throw Series. Interactive displays included the PB1 and PB2 Series, the weatherproof LFX6 series, narrow bezel LFV50 LED displays and competitively priced LFE6 Series LED displays, along with Panasonic’s LRU60 Series of HDTVs. Also on show: Panasonic’s pan/tilt/zoom cameras, production switchers and its newest controller, the AW-RP120.
Patch Player is a lightweight, portable and wireless media playback system that works on Android devices and is designed to streamline video productions.
PixelFlex featured their new LR-4, a 2’ x 2’ 4mm LED panel, in a booth that also provided information and samples of the company’s 18mm to 100mm LED curtain designs.
projectiondesign, the Norway-based company that merged with Barco, showed how its F35 panorama projector, with its 21:9 aspect ratio and 2.7 megapixel resolution, could be used together with Barco’s ClickShare content-sharing solution. Other highlights included a six-channel projected dome showing 2D and 3D content for visitor attractions, with F35 AS3D active stereo projectors as the display source. Also featured: the F22 1080 with ClickShare, the F32 1080 in a rear-projection interactive setup and a demo for ProNet.precision auto-alignment using a pair of F32 wuxga projectors.
Riedel Communications featured its MediorNet MN-C-OPT-HDMI and MN-HDO-4IO universal video cards for the company’s MediorNet Modular network. They support a variety of compact optical transceivers and are designed to let users flexibly configure MediorNet systems for bidirectional transport of analog composite video, HDMI, DVI, and optical or coaxial SDI signals. Depending on the SFP transceivers installed, the card can provide a combination of either four HD (1.5G) or two 1080p (3G) bidirectional video signals or analog video, HDMI, DVI, or optical SDI video I/O, and the HDMI I/Os feature self-locking mini HDMI connectors. Riedel also displayed two new Connect AVB (Audio Video Bridging) interfaces — the Connect AVB C8 and Connect AVB A8 — which transport analog or AES3/EBU digital audio over AVB-capable local area networks (LANs) in real time. Riedel also announced version 1.14 of its MediorWorks configuration, control and monitoring software.
Robe featured the Pointe, a multi beam fixture with 75,000 Lux output; the new MiniMe; and the Cyclone, a moving head fan fixture with a ring of LEDs on the outside.
Roland Systems Group launched the VR-50HD all-in-one AV mixer, with outputs for live streaming and recording that make use of USB 3.0 and streaming 1080p.
Screen Innovations demoed their FlexGlass rear projection screen material, which can be rolled up for easy transport.
StageMaker demonstrated their SR2 series of motor hoists, which feature their “Perfect Push” load wheel. It’s available in ¼, ½ and 1-ton configurations.
TAF featured new lecterns fabricated from truss and their TAF Tool software program for designing systems using TAF products.
Techni-Lux previewed their forthcoming LEDifice LED fixtures along with their new Ultra BATT, an RGB battery powered LED uplighter with WDMX built in.
The Light Source had its 100W LED dimming houselights on display. Designed with thermal management in mind, the lights feature 60 LEDs behind Fresnel lenses. Options include 30°, 45°, 60° and 80° beam spreads and a variety of accessories to make it easier to use the fixtures in different interior spaces.
TMB featured new ProPlex devices along with load cell monitoring from Performance Rigging Systems and the Par4keet 4K video distribution device from Green Hippo.
TV One launched its CORIOmax product line, complementing its existing line of CORIO based video processors. The company also featured a new company logo and brand image.
Zylight, a manufacturer of LED fixtures for the broadcast and theater markets exhibiting at InfoComm for the first time, featured its new F8 LED Fresnel and IS3c wide soft light. Available in tungsten (3200K) or daylight (5600K) versions, the F8 LED Fresnel collapses to less than four inches thick for easy transport and storage. The IS3c LED light is an updated version of Zylight’s IS3 large panel cyclorama with built-in controls for adjusting color nuances.
Look for more InfoComm news to be added to this posting shortly.
For more details on InfoComm 2013, go to www.infocommshow.org.
