On the occasion of its 40th anniversary, this year’s PLASA Show will celebrate the evolution of the entertainment technology industry as well as offering insights into the latest products and developments.
PLASA’s director of events, Chris Toulmin, comments: “PLASA Show has been at the heart of the live entertainment industry for the last 40 years, and we are excited to deliver a show for 2017 with many innovative new features and celebrating the impressive industry developments that have been achieved.”
This year’s event will accommodate over 150 manufacturers, suppliers and distributors showcasing the latest technology, hosting exclusive product launches and sharing their expertise.
Following recent close co-operation between PLASA and the audio industry, visitors can expect a greater emphasis on the sector. There’s a 25% increase in audio exhibitors compared with 2016, plus more audio-focused education events, as well as live product demonstrations.
Audio
KV2 Audio will hold the UK launch of the brand new VHD 2.18J 2x18in subwoofer at PLASA. The VHD 2.18J’s optimised, high-efficiency bass-reflex design is claimed to produce considerably more output than other similar double 18in enclosures.
KV2 will also be running demonstrations of EX, ESD and ESR products throughout the show.
Autograph Sales & Installations will be showcasing a variety of products and technologies from an array of leading manufacturers. The company will be highlighting two newly acquired distribution and dealership product lines. One of these is Point Source Audio, whose SERIES8 and EMBRACE microphones, as well as its CM-i series of in-ear headsets, are being distributed exclusively by autograph in the UK.
Audio-Technica will showcase audio products from its own and its distributed brand portfolios. The latter include Allen & Heath’s flagship dLive digital mixing system, with the S5000 control surface and the new rackmountable C Class C1500 surface.
Also on the stand will be a variety of install solutions from Apart Audio. The flexible, intuitive MA240 and MA60 mixing amplifiers and stylish, full-sounding MASK loudspeakers will be the centrepiece of the display, along with the ultra-compact Sublime-W subwoofer.
Finally, key microphones from Audio-Technica’s live-oriented Artist and Artist Elite series will appear alongside popular stage-friendly models from its 40 Series.
Shure will showcase its comprehensive line of digital wireless systems and participate in the traditionally well-attended PLASA seminar program. Tuomo Tolonen, Shure UK’s pro audio group manager and RF expert, will discuss how to prepare for the loss of the 700MHz RF band, which is being auctioned in May 2020, and will no longer be available for wireless microphone and in-ear monitoring system use.
The entry-level GLX-D Advanced system, mid-tier QLX-D and ULX-D and the flagship Axient Digital wireless system will all be available for demonstration.
Italian manufacturer FBT’s newly expanded VENTIS range will make its UK debut at PLASA.
New additions are the full-range 8in VENTIS 108A, plus the 12in and 15in 112MA and 115MA multipurpose pole-mountable wedges, all available in both passive and active configurations. They join the existing models, the 15in 115A, the 12in 112A, 10in 110A and 6.5in 206A – all two-way, bass reflex designs housed in 15mm birch plywood.
Adamson Systems Engineering will be showing the S-Series and new IS-Series of loudspeakers, in collaboration with its UK distributor, The Warehouse Sound Services.
The purpose-built IS-Series brings the technology of Adamson’s touring products including Kevlar drivers, into an exterior design specifically developed for the architectural integration market. A highlight will be the recently released IS7/IS118 (Ultra Compact Array).
Lighting
Robe’s focus will be on its just launched MegaPointe all new multi-purpose moving light, which is having its first international trade show outing at PLASA just 10 days after its global launch.
MegaPointe’s optics produce bright parallel beams, spot gobo projections, together with super-quick movement, smooth CMY colour mixing and a multitude of effects available for splitting and shaping the light in Spot, Beam or Wash modes.
Elation will be showcasing its new breed of hybrid luminaire, the full-colour IP65-rated Paladin strobe/wash/blinder effect, along with the award-winning Proteus line of IP65-rated arc-source moving heads (Proteus Beam and Proteus Hybrid).
Other innovations on display will include the Artiste DaVinci, a full-featured theatrical-grade LED moving head spot for the creative lighting designer; the popular Fuze Series of dynamic LED wash luminaires for classic wash looks from cutting-edge LED wash lights; and the Platinum 1200 Wash, Elation’s brightest LED moving-head wash to date, with a 1500W discharge.
On the Artistic Licence stand, visitors can attempt to blow up products using a Van de Graaff generator! As well as highlighting the high levels of built-in protection in its premium splitters and gateways, this demonstration will also highlight the new DMX-Protect, which is a low-cost retrofit solution that provides electrical protection of other equipment.
On show from Eaton will be the two newly launched Zero 88 FLX S lighting consoles, the FLX S24 and FLX S48. Controlling 48 and 96 fixtures respectively, these consoles are designed for applications where space, time, ease of use and flexibility are key factors.
Zero 88 has streamlined key elements of FLX S to assist with all the prep work, getting the user ready to operate even quicker.
PLASA 2017 runs from Sunday 17 to Tuesday 19 September at Olympia in London.
