PROJECTS

Coloured Ink with Pulsar and Osram LED Lighting
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The famous English ale house ‘The Bended Elbow’ in Yarra Street Geelong, recently redeveloped the top floor of its premises into the exciting new INK Nightclub. In what is fast becoming a genuine party town, INK Nightclub sees a new home for Corio’s late night dance addicts.
Perth Architects Oldfield Knott designed a new, innovative space to cater for the intended clientele. World-class sound and lighting plus a dynamic ambience were all prescribed for the new club and it received nothing less. Decorated with stylish fabric panels, decked out with a sound-system that would make most DJs salivate, and containing a fully functional outdoor bar area, INK Nightclub has that intangible feeling of class and warmth that cannot just be bought.
Lightmoves were contracted to provide special effect lighting throughout the venue. A perfectly-positioned and decorated bar was enhanced even further by the use of Osram colour-changing LED strips, which provided key perimeter lighting along the front and back.
Lightmoves also took this opportunity to road-test Pulsar’s latest LED luminaire, the Chroma Wall Ellipse. Having just been released at the time, the owners took no convincing to use the product after just one demonstration. Positioned along the stairways and upstairs lounge areas, the Wall Ellipses combine a decorative element with functional subtle colour-changing downlighting.
Standard incandescent Horizontal Mini light bud lighting was also used to great effect to light the steps, as well as highlighting the edges of the decorated fabric wall panels and DJ’s console. A total of ten ChromaMR16 LED downlights were also used to light the bottle displays behind the bars.
As with most Lightmoves installations, an Enttec DMX Streamer with Remote Playback was used to run the colour-changing process. The result is a superb looking installation with an easy interface that allows the manager to easily select the colour of the room to suit the mood.
As the nightclub industry expands even further and becomes more competitive, the initial decisions made in regards to lighting and design are becoming more and more vital. Lightmoves has shown again that the right fixtures in the right venue, can create a vibe and a feeling that no amount of ‘free drink cards’ can compete with.
All photos are copyrighted to Stefani Driscoll Photography.
www.lightmoves.com
www.showtech.com.au

Hilton Sydney installs over 70 Martin MX-10's and a grandMA
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Hilton Sydney is Australia’s largest hotel convention and meeting space with 4,000sqm of flexible floor space and accommodation for up to 1200 delegates for a single event or conference. The conference and function centre is completely purpose built, designed by the industry for the industry. There is a versatile 100 booth Exhibition Space, 11 Event Rooms and 9 Hilton Meeting Rooms but the grandest space is the spacious, modern Grand Ballroom.
The Grand Ballroom can either be used for a 1200 seat theatre-format plenary session or it can be divided into two separate and soundproof amenities exceeding 450 m 2, each with an anteroom and holding 700 delegates.
In-house audiovisual company Staging Connections were involved in the early planning of the Ballroom thus ensuring the necessary infrastructure for such a prestigious venue was in place.
To light such an expansive area a total of seventy-eight Martin MX-10 scanners have been permanently wired into purpose built lighting bars from where they can light individual tables.
“The advantage of using the Martin MX-10 is that it is a very quiet light and so if we do need to do movement around the room you don’t hear over seventy motors crunching away,” said Matt Danks of Staging Connections. “We also use them for business sessions, not just gala dinners. We’ve certainly found them to be versatile in fact they’ve been a great light for us. They’re also very low maintenance. We’ve got them wired up in three different circuits of DMX because traditionally we’ve always use a Hog lighting desk but that would fill one Hog on it’s own so we decided to switch to the MA Lighting grandMA console instead.”
The grandMA is set up so that it can be operated off laptops around the room and fed in via Ethernet. To accurately pinspot the tables a Wireless PDA is used; the guys need to just click a button at the table where the light needs to be and the MX-10 is moved into place. Before the grandMA this was always a two-man, noisy job that was very time consuming.
“If you need to move a table at the last minute you just whip the PDA out of your pocket, dial up the table and by using the stylus on the screen adjust the light however you need it,” said Matt. “We’ve certainly found this to be very handy.”
Staging Connections are so impressed by the MA Lighting grandMA they are in the process of switching some of their other venue lighting consoles to grandMA models with internal training well underway.
“The grandMA is great!” declared Matt. “It has the expandability that other desks don’t offer. With our extensive cabling infrastructure we can patch the grandMA into anywhere in the venue.”
www.showtech.com.au

The Iris Hotel Group recently purchased the historic Criterion Hotel on the corner of Pitt and Park St in the heart of Sydney. This hotel, built in the 1930’s, has been greatly over looked by other property developers and its previous owners. With a renovation underway and a desire to attract additional attention and clientele to the hotel, the Criterion’s new part-owner Sam Arnaout sought external colour changing lighting as a possible solution.
The effect created is that the notable façade of the hotel slowly changes colour with almost the entire upper three stories of the hotel bathed in dynamic colour changing light.
The hotel location is on one of Sydney’s busiest street corners and so it is surrounded by substantial lighting pollution from a large amount of council street lights, fast food take away lighting, other architectural lighting and constant streams of traffic headlights. All this light makes it difficult for lighting designers to throw a large amount of light onto the building, so placement and fitting numbers are the keys to a good outcome. Fortunately Sam and his team were committed to the project and once some initial testing via on-site evaluations was completed the Studio Duo CityColor 400’s were chosen as the most effective and efficient way to create the desired effect.
The Studio Duo CityColor 400’s are very efficient using two CDM 150watt lamps per unit with a life expectancy of around 6000 hours – providing trouble free operation.
Control is by way of an ELC AC612 Scene Storer which was programmed with Martin LightJockey USB via a notebook. This ELC controller consists of thirteen buttons and is located in the hotel manager’s office allowing for a simple push button selection for individual colours or, when the thirteenth button is selected, a chase program to move through the previous twelve presets. The controller can be reprogrammed at anytime by the simple connection of a DMX controller directly to the ELC AC 612 thus allowing for many changes to the hotels appearance to be made quickly and easily.
www.showtech.com.au

MoodLight Tiles for second Steve Madden store
MoodLight Tile DMX panels were installed in Australia’s second Steve Madden concept shoe store, which has opened on Chapel Street in Melbourne.
Steve Madden is a leading shoe brand in the USA, and in the last year has planned on bringing their success to Australia. Steve Madden has opened two concept shoe stores in Australia. The first one – at the newly redeveloped Melbourne Central, and now a second – on Melbourne’s fashion strip Chapel Street. Both are illuminated by MoodLight Tiles.
The Steve Madden shoe stores are known for their uniqueness and style, and this feeling is incorporated into the store.15 linked MoodLight Tile DMX panels are integrated into the store design behind the main counter. A further 10 linked MoodLight Tile DMX panels are placed at the rear of another counter, both featuring prominently in the store.
Each panel consists of four segments which are illuminated individually to create unique colourful patterns and give the store an uplfting and ever-changing mood.
MoodLight Tiles are controlled from an ECue control package, which allows virtually limitless design possibilities, while user control is simple and intuitive. Knowledge of the programming is not required by the store staff, the ECue device being completely standalone, makes its ideal for retail applications such as Steve Madden.
The MoodLight Tiles were specified by George Iliopoulos, General Manager of Steve Madden, Australia. George explains that the main reason he specified MoodLight Tiles is their versatility of colour (many colours and designs are possible) and ability to run different programs to create a great look, matching the design mood of the stores and the Steve Madden brand. Says George, “The MoodLight products are just great and have become a vital and integral part of our concept stores. This is just the beginning for Steve Madden, and we’ve been pleased to design the MoodLight products into our concept from day one, giving us a unique and impressive point of difference with our clients.”
www.ula.com.au
Source: Media release from ULA

Channel 9 Melbourne updates with De Sisti
Rohan Thornton wanted to update Channel 9’s inventory of standard studio lighting in particular to replace some very old units (some of the units replaced went back to a purchase for the Olympic Games in 1956).
Channel 9 was already a well established user of De Sisti luminaries and thus when the decision was made to purchase some 80+ fixtures De Sisti was certainly considered.
Inline with company policy Rohan put out a RFQ to obtain pricing for various suppliers including Coemar De Sisti Australia. After considering all quotations and options management decided to continue with there association with the De Sisti range of products and an order was placed with Coemar De Sisti Australia.
This purchase shows the Australian TV lighting industry commitment to the De Sisti brand in Australia, will all commercial stations having a good stock of De Sisti products in their arsenals.
Contact CDA now on (03) 9467 8666 or via email at sales@cdaust.com.au for further information on this project or previous projects.
Equipment List
21 x De Sisti 650W Magis fresnels
2 x De Sisti 12kW Leonardo fresnels
22 x De Sisti 1K Leonardo fresnels
24 x De Sisti 2K Leonardo fresnels
6 x De Sisti 5K Leonardo fresnels
9 x 2000W TD beam c/w all accessories
A range of clamps stands etc
www.cdaust.com.au

LSC Dimmers the drive behind Myers Melbourne Christmas Windows
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One of the great Australian Christmas traditions is the Myer Christmas Windows and this year they are even more stunning than ever with the Myer in Melbourne celebrating their 50th presentation within the Bourke Street window frontage for the 2005 season.
To be taken backstage on such an installation is quite impressive, appearing as an Aladdin’s cave in itself of show technology and equipment. It is quite a different picture from the images backstage from yesteryear.
Stage One Promotions P/L has been responsible for the design, fabrication and maintenance of these windows since 1994. Over the past 12 years, a customised system of control for lighting, sound and animatronics has been developed specifically fulfilling the needs of an event, which operates daily for 18 hours for a gruelling 8 week season.
LSC dimmers were chosen to drive the lights; 12 x LSC tour series dimmer racks, racked in lots of 4 (i.e.: 48 circuits), with supporting equipment held within each rack including data splitters, 3 phase distribution, DMX addressed relay switching units and 24 x low volt dimmer circuits for driving birdies. Three new custom manufactured power distribution boards were produced by LSC for the 2005 season. Each dizzy board is interconnected by a 24 volt DC signal, closing the main feed relay contact, which facilitates an emergency stop system for all animation and is also connected to the main time clock control. The dizzy board also powers the DMX splitters, so upon loosing power all dimmer racks go to a DBO.
“The system is simple, and works beautifully, as I discovered when I accidentally unplugged the 24VDC supply one afternoon!” stated John Kerr, Creative and Technical Director .
Once cues are programmed and timing is fine tuned, each window’s data is stored as a separate show on 2 x Alcorn McBride DMX Lightcues™. These units have the ability to not only store multiple shows but they can also play back 6 x separate shows simultaneously, cued via a master show control system via RS 232 communication.
Lighting
Lighting within a confined window space has been a self taught education based on years of playing within windows for John Kerr. As there is no Front of House lighting opportunity, the design of lighting fixture placement and focus occurs very early on, whist the set and scenery are still on the drawing board.
The windows create a fantasy 3D environment, and the tools to create this need to be masked from the audience. The sightlines are extreme and need to be accounted for, as there is a moving audience and it is necessary to accommodate extreme eye levels; from a standing 4 year old through to a 4 year old sitting on the shoulders of an adult.
Each window is choreographed with movement, lighting and sound. The lighting within each window is sourced from Stage One’s internal inventory, the majority being Selecon 650 and 1K stock fresnels and profiles. The main fixtures being used are the Selecon 1K 90 degree pacific.
”When these arrived on the market, my prayers were answered,” said John. “Building on top of the basic work horse rig, are an arsenal of “specials” or better known as “ my toys”, from flame lights, fibre optics, LED fixtures, moving mirrors, water effects, DHA wheels, gobo rotators, candle effects etc.”
The windows are lit theatrically, similar to dance/ballet techniques, utilising low cross light and lots of overhead projected gobo textures and effect wheels. Colour is always an issue, as the traditional saturated colours are lost during the daylight hours and gel replacement daily becomes extremely tedious.
Although Stage One maintains a moving light inventory, their use is dictated by the theme seasonally.
”I still prefer the art of focussing a profile and the magic that a controlled beam, a texture break up and some split colour gel can create,” John said. “I find that too much moving light and associated effects can actually distract and camouflage the actual crafted animated movements within the windows.”
The addition of 8 x Martin Cyclo RGB colour mixing fluorescent fixtures to the inventory this year has allowed great opportunity to produce colour cross fades on cycloramas at very close range. Over the next year, further procurement of these units will replace the entire stock of their multiple cell cyc fixtures.
Show Control
All windows across Australia are controlled by Alcorn McBride systems, developed for theme park, museum and retail environment applications. Starting at the top of the show control rack sits the Alcorn McBride Webster, this unit allows control and monitoring of the windows from the WWW. The windows are cued daily by a digital Chrontrol clock, switching contact closures as programmed, to independently power up and down the windows daily, beginning with air plants, followed by window power and finally show playback. The unit also switches the external sound volume down at 10:00pm to abide the sound curfew enforced by MCC.
The master show control unit is a V16, supplying 16 serial ports of RS 232, each port cueing individual window playbacks, MP3 8 TRAXX playbacks, Lightcues and CD players.
Sound
The windows operate 2 systems. Each window has up to 3 separate tracks which are downloaded to 2 x Alcorn McBride 8 TRAXX multiple MP3 playback units. The signal is then distributed to a standard PA/speaker system and also to an Audio Spotlight speaker system supplied by EAV. The 12 x Audio spotlights, operate during the last 3 hours of each nightly performance, supplying very focussed sound beams of ultrasonic generated soundwaves. The sound is invisible unless the punter stands directly in front of each window.
Animation / Mecatronics
The windows contain an array of mechanical equipment, comprising of pneumatics, DC and AC motors, servos and solenoids. Controlled by DMX via Gilderfluke™ editing and operating systems, the control is primarily digital or analogue.
Each window has a dedicated 512 DMX universe.
www.lsclighting.com.au
www.stage1.com.au

A Tale of Two Theatres
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It shouldn’t come as a shock for many people to hear that Victorians love their theatre. It is no surprise therefore, that Drama is rapidly becoming one of the fastest growing subjects on the High School curriculum, particularly among VCE (year 11 and 12) students. Caulfield Grammar recently addressed this trend by investing in two new, identical Performing Arts Centres – one at their Caulfield Campus and one at their Wheelers Hill campus.
Architects John Gribble Pty Ltd designed a functional space with the assistance of theatre consultants Entertech and electrical engineers Adrian Newman & Associates. With 16 years experience in the industry, Lightmoves was contracted to provide Lighting and Audio Visual infrastructure throughout both venues. Before work commenced on site, Lightmoves created shop drawings showing cable routes and types for the electrical contractors. This included cables for DMX (consisting of three sets of two universes of input, and twenty DMX outlet locations), Ethernet (cable termination to 15 locations), Paging, Intercom, House Lighting Control, Video and Show Relay.
As the theatrical lighting outlets onstage needed to be relocatable, 50mm circuit tubing was used. The 6m long pre-wired bars were affixed to the scenery batons allowing distributed power to any bar. The fan-out was then patched to LSC iPRO dimmers as required. Each of the theatres contained eight bars with an impressive total of 96 outlets.
In order to assist the individual with one of theatre’s toughest jobs, Lightmoves designed and built a Stage Manager’s console. Featuring an all steel frame, large lockable castors, a cable harness, a flip-up lid and double doors underneath, it truly is a Stage Manager's dream.
The customised console was also home to a Creative Audio C120 intercom master station, an audience recall tone button, a digital countdown / timer, and a Littlite gooseneck task light. The intercom master feeds two talkback loops that can be accessed at any of the 27 intercom points located throughout the building. To enable cast and crew to hear the show relay, a Shure SM89 Microphone was mounted on the number one lighting bridge.
Communication with the public area’s, such as the foyers, gallery and ticket box, was made possible through the use of a high quality paging system using JBL Control24 speakers, Australian Monitor amplifiers and a Peavey Digitool processor.
Lightmoves final task was to create global lighting control for the four distinct systems of lighting – audience / foyer lights, on-stage "work lights", on-stage blue working lights and general backstage lighting. This was implemented using Dynalite Architectural Dimmers controlled by an easy-to-use push button panel located on the Stage Managers console. Anybody who has worked in an older theatre would appreciate how much easier this makes life!
These two matching installations provided Lightmoves with a variety of different tasks and challenges. With a work force exceeding 30, Lightmoves are able to eliminate the need for subcontractors in most situations, guaranteeing a consistently high standard of workmanship. It is this reliability backed with a wealth of experience that keeps Lightmoves at the top of the proscenium in theatre installations.
As for the students… well, they love their new theatres. Why wouldn’t they?

For more information on theatrical infrastructure and installations, contact Peter Gray of Lightmoves on 9701 2500.
www.lightmoves.com

Pulsar helps set the pulse running
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Diamonds International Cabaret Restaurant is a sophisticated, elegant venue with more than just food on your table! Diamonds has blended fine dining and nightclubbing experiences with provocative cabaret dancers to create an indulgent and sensual club in a secret hideaway in Surry Hills.
Diamonds is a fully licensed club that hosts alluring table dancers that you can get up close and personal with by exchanging your dollars for Diamond Dollars, which are used as tipping money to be placed in the dancers garter - the more you tip, the more you see.
The venue incorporates a main floor complete with a dance podium, complete with pole and mirror backing, as well as VIP rooms, private booths and a seven-metre bar.
Lighting in the venue had to be subtle, not too bright and flattering to the abundant flesh on show. In fact the venue owners were extremely choosy when it came to the hues used as certain colours are not good for highlighting flesh in a positive manner.
When introduced to the Pulsar ChromaMR16 LED fittings the owners knew they were on to a winner. With 16.7 million colours on offer, the ChromaMR16’s could supply the exact colours required. Red, purple and green hues apparently compliment skin tones.
A total of seventy-one Pulsar ChromaMR16’s are installed throughout the venue which is divided into fifteen zones. The ChromaMR16’s can be found on the bulkheads, through the entryway, under the bar, as well as on top of it and behind it, in the VIP room and the private booths.
Control is by a Pulsar OS1 Outstation - a compact 12 Button, 60 Scene, 54 Channel DMX programmable control desk that is ideal as an architectural controller – has been installed. This acts as a remote for the two ChromaZone 12 controllers allowing them to coordinate contrasting colours from the MR16’s throughout different locations within the building. This also offers total control of the entire fifteen zones, not just one, at the push of a button.
DMC Lighting & Sound supplied and installed the Pulsar ChromaMR16’s.
www.showtech.com.au

Midnight Shift to LEDs
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Sydney ’s Midnight Shift is an institution that attracts people of all sorts: most, but not all, are gay men. The two-level bar and club is split into three areas - with the Video Bar and Locker Room on level one, and a nightclub on level two.
The Video Bar is the first room that one steps into upon entering the venue and was in dire need of refurbishment. The complete renovation will be done over a period of time but stage one has just been completed with a new ceiling installed.
The venue owners decided to make a spectacular feature of the new ceiling by colour washing it with the aid of ten Pulsar LED ChromaStrip2’s with 20° lenses. ChromaStrip2’s are linear strips of colour mixing LEDs, 900mm long, these are designed to highlight architectural features such as windows, doorways, coving or building structure outlines
“We went to Show Technology to look at the LED products and knew that was what we wanted,” said Paul Finnigan, the Shift’s General Manager. “It’s a big departure from what we had previously especially as the room hasn’t been touched for ten years. The customers are all very impressed; it’s such a contrast to the basic lighting that we had before.”
The ChromaStrip2’s enable the venue to paint the décor with coloured light to suit the different moods and various functions held there.
A further ten Pulsar MR16’s are recessed into the ceiling along the back wall to compliment the ChromaStrip2s. The installation of all the LED lighting was carried out by DMC Lighting & Sound.
“We generally use the lighter colours during the day whilst at night we go for a rainbow effect or a stunning red,” added Paul.
Control is via Pulsar ChromaZone 12 and an ELC AC612 wall controller.
“The ELC wall controller is an aesthetically pleasing, architectural lighting control panel, which allows it to be placed behind the bar from where staff can use it’s simple, one touch operation that allows them to chose different scenes (colours) or chases which have been preprogrammed and stored in the Chromazone PS12,” explained Mark McInnes, Show Technology’s Project Development Manager.
Further stages of the renovation will see new flooring, a new bar and new entrance to the Video Bar as well as expanding the adjacent Pokie room.
www.showtech.com.au

Avsound bowl over AMF Bowling Centres
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AMF Bowling has opened two new bowling centres; one in Woodville, South Australia, and one in the new Westpoint shopping centre in Blacktown Sydney. Sydney-based Avsound Productions supplied and installed all of the lighting, audio and audio visual elements in both venues.
AMF claim that the 24 Lane Centre in Blacktown is the most spectacular bowling facility in the country featuring the very latest equipment, lanes and scoring technology. The Centre also features the new concept Sliders bowling bar and grill as well as the very latest in sound and lighting technology.
Supplying the colour wash to the ceilings are two Martin CX-10 colour changers whilst three Geni MOS moving scanners are evenly spaced across the bowling lanes from where they can project gobo effects all over the bowling area.
A plain feature wall is stunningly decorated by five Martin DC2 Manias which project a flickering flame effect. Six Martin Mania PR1 projectors are also installed to add even more effect-lighting possibilities. Two JEM Magnum Foggers and two Magnum hazers supply the required atmospherics.
The lighting is controlled by a Martin Freekie lighting control system with the lighting programmed by Martin LightJockey.
The Woodville Bowling Centre has 4 Geni Shiva moving mirror lights, three Martin Mania PR1 projectors, three Martin DC2 Mania, a JEM Magnum Fogger, a Magnum hazer and a Freekie lighting control system.
www.showtech.com.au

Martin attracts Paparazzi
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For several years Rick Browne and his company Venue Technical Services, based in Perth, have been supplying and installing audio and lighting into venues owned by prominent Indonesian business man Kadek Wiranatha. Whilst most of these venues have been in Bali, Kadek has recently expanded his empire into Jakarta with the opening of Paparazzi 2, an upmarket bar/restaurant in the plaza on the ground floor of the Hyatt Hotel in the CBD.
During the day the venue acts as a restaurant progressing into a bar and nightclub in the evening.
With most of the venue’s façade constructed of glass Paparazzi 2’s architect and interior designer Fredo Tafin decided it was an ideal opportunity to use colour changing lighting. Rick recommended and installed thirteen Martin Alien 05’s recessed colour changing fixtures over the bar, two over the DJ box and one over the cashier.
“I like the aesthetics of the Alien 05,” said Rick. “They look really funky and Jakarta is a very hip city where everything has to be the latest and greatest, so they suited the décor very well.”
In the restaurant area four Pulsar ChromaPendant lights are suspended above the tables with control by a Pulsar OS1 wall mounted lighting controller.
“The Pulsar ChromaPendants are quite economical and with the Pulsar controller, they run beautifully with the rest of the building tying in with the room lighting, Rick said. “They also look great and the colour from them is fantastic.”
In the recessed alcove around the ceiling and bar Rick uses a clever and economical way of colour changing using red, green and blue LED rope lighting through a Jands FP12WM.
“The client was quite ecstatic!” added Rick.
www.showtech.com.au

Conrad Treasury Casino opts for Pro Shop LED Wall Washers
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Entertainment Services in Queensland have had a long-running and successful relationship with Conrad Treasury Casino in Brisbane and so it was no surprise that they were asked to supply and put in the latest lighting installation to the venue.
The client decided that the six feature arches of the LiveWire Bar would be greatly enhanced by some characteristic colour washing. Consequently Entertainment Service supplied a Pro Shop LED Wall Washer unit for each arch.
The LED Wall Washers lights are controlled by an ELC AC612XL Architectural Mini DMX Controller.
“The client is very happy with the end result particularly the simple control offered,” said Greg Hughes from Entertainment Services. “This has proved to be an important issue as the bar staff are not lighting console literate.”
The original lighting sequences are programmed on a lighting console and the snapshots are then uploaded on to the ELC AC612XL which can store up to twelve snapshots. You can then set the snapshots to dissolve in and out of each other in a slow chase mode.
“After you have disconnected the lighting console all you have is a chase on/off, a speed control for the chaser or the ability to select 1 through 12 of the actual scene,” explained Greg. “It’s very simple for the bar staff to operate.”
www.showtech.com.au

Mania DC1's supply effects to Wombat stores
Pretty Girl Fashion Group P/L includes some of Australia’s most popular ladies clothing shops including the Rockmans, Table Eight and Wombat stores. Whilst overseas recently Selina Ward, Senior Design & Construction Manager with the group, saw how successful effects lighting can be when used in retail environments and she decided to use this concept in some of her own stores.
Selina chose a Martin Mania DC1, a light fixture that projects brilliant decorative fluid effects, for two of the Sydney Wombat stores. Instead of using the Mania DC1 to project an obvious water effect, Selina has opted for a subtle, warm ripple of light that blends into the neutral-tones of the store. Not all retail lighting effects need to scene-stealers and this is a prime example of a subtle yet enhancing outcome that does not distract from the merchandise on offer.
“We amended the effect to suit our design,“ said Selina. “We wanted a soft effect like a golden ripple. However, we need a light that was bright enough to cut through the store lighting and the DC1’s certainly do that.”
The Mania DC1 fixtures are recessed into the ceiling so as not to interrupt the sleek lines of the store interior. Selina and her colleagues are happy with the results and she states that more Mania DC1’s will definitely be used in the near future.
www.showtech.com.au

Lightmoves at the Grand Hyatt
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One of Melbourne’s most prestigious entertainment and accommodation venues, the Grand Hyatt, has recently undergone six months of extensive renovations to the Level 8 Banquet floor. The Grand Hyatt’s magnificent new Savoy Ballroom, Mayfair Ballroom and pre-function area, feature the most sophisticated technology, wedded with impressive interior design.
Critical to the Grand Hyatt’s vision was an intimate and comfortable atmosphere throughout the ballroom and foyer areas, utilising kinetic lighting and video. This vision was realised by lighting designer, Mike Huggins, from Light Directions in Hong Kong. Mike has an extensive relationship with the Hyatt Hotel Group, having previously designed the lighting for Melbourne’s Park Hyatt.
Mike’s concepts for lighting control relied heavily on a total integration of all kinetic light sources and functional lighting, but with a simple front end. This was no easy task when the system was required to perform a range of tasks, including local or global control, complex room joining, plus control over an eclectic blend of incandescent, metal halide, fluorescent and LED light sources.
Lightmoves were invited to offer specification for a control system that could achieve these objectives, within the tight budget constraints.
Lightmoves’ Technical Director, Andrew Sherar, met with the client to discuss the most effective way to implement a design within the limited timeframe. He found that not only did the Hyatt require control of the standard light sources, but they also needed to control colour changing LEDs and DMX-controlled moving lights. All via local control for Banqueting staff, and by the in-house AV company.
Knowing the exact parameters of the system requirements, Lightmoves proposed a system that allowed complex and sophisticated control but could be utilised for simple meetings and functions without the need for an AV Technician. The overall system included 240 channels of ‘Dual Port’ dimming, controlling incandescent and fluorescent lighting, various LED controllers, 14 LCD touch screens, push button panels, 12 Enttec DMX Streamers and a DMX patch bay.
During the development of the control solution, Lightmoves became aware of the need to integrate the colour-changing feature lighting into the system. They proposed a number of alternate fixtures that could be directly controlled via the Dynalite system. Total control via this Dynalite system, provided the potential for substantial cost savings and significantly improved performance of the specified fittings
This was achieved in areas throughout the Grand Hyatt Ballrooms. The Mayfair Ballroom’s walls were originally specified with colour changing LED spotlights to create a wall washing effect. Joe Casamento, Lightmoves’ Project Manager, states “We asked the client if they had considered colour changing fluorescents instead of LED spotlights. The Martin Cyclo Directional fittings offer brighter output, wider coverage and are not quite as expensive. After several site tests they were quickly convinced!”
Subsequently, the Martin Cyclos were placed behind frosted glass panels on the wall. The result was an amazing colour dimensional wall with programmable colour wash settings.
The walls were matched with ceiling alcove colour washing, using Osram LED strips running directly off Dynalite LED controllers.
The visual impact of these rooms is amazing. Most striking, however, are the colour changing LED feature glass panels in the ballroom foyers and escalators. Lightmoves worked closely with glass specialists Toucan Glass, to develop mesmerizing back-lit glass features along the main pre-function wall, column and escalators. Almost 70 LEDion colour changing MR16 LED downlighters were installed behind the textured glass panels. Using Martin LightJockey, Lightmoves programmed a variety of colour-changing sequences. These were recorded into Enttec Streamer DMX recorders and are simply triggered via Dynalite touchscreens.
The Ballroom was designed with movable walls, to enable the space to be divided into many room configurations. Each of the 13 rooms contains a customised LCD touchscreen to provide lighting control functions and control of background audio and lectern microphone volume.
Alternatively, the system allows for control of the entire ballroom lighting via any LCD panel in any room.
Each separate area in the ballroom is controlled by its own set of "Dual Port" dimmers. This means that in addition to the Dynalite control panels they can also accept the DMX signal from any industry standard lighting desk.
A complete DMX patching system was installed to integrate the fixed intelligent DMX controlled fittings, house light dimmers and any portable equipment bought in for a particular event. The DMX Patch Panel has a separate link to each room’s lighting dimmers. Plugging a lighting desk into the system will render the lighting panels and LCD touch screens temporarily inoperable, making the system respond solely to the lighting desk.
Almost all of the rooms have moving (intelligent) lights in the ceiling. These fittings can be controlled either by a lighting console operated by a member of the in–house A/V supply company, or through the House Lighting Control System, via LCD Touchscreens operated by A/V Staff or Banquet Staff. Enttec DMXStreamers control the intelligent lights in each room, storing programmed sequences that are are triggered through the lighting control system via the LCD touchscreens sending RS-232 commands. As there are separate DMXStreamers and control interfaces in each room area, control has been set up to follow the the joining of areas. When a member of the banquet staff opens a removable wall and joins the two rooms together, all the systems are joined, including intelligent lights.
Despite the complex control required by the variety of possible room configurations, the house lighting system is simple and straightforward for all banquet staff to operate. Advanced functions are password-protected to limit access to management staff and/or the in-house A/V contractor.
After visiting the Grand Hyatt Ballrooms there is no doubt that the feature lighting and control is one of the major elements of the complex. The use of the latest technology in light and colour, allows the unique ballroom to transform its interior easily and without the need for skilled technical staff.
www.lightmoves.com

Room 2 Impress
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It seems it’s not just the North Queensland weather that is warming up with Rockhampton’s latest hot venue Room 2 now open for business. A fashionable lounge bar that incorporates an intimate dance floor area, the venue was built from scratch with the owner contracting Craig Simmons of Supervision Electronics to design and install the complete lighting and audio package.
Craig confesses that he is always excited by the latest entertainment technology and he couldn’t wait to bring some of the latest Show Technology equipment to this venue.
“I traveled down to Show Technology’s extensive show room in Sydney where Darren McLanders showed me the new MOS300– the latest in club and live venue lighting design from Geni,” said Craig. “For nightclubs and discos the MOS300 have got all the functions that the dearer models have except they have a fully rotational mirror on them which I think is very, very good value for the dollar. They’re a very good choice for a nightclub.”
Craig was also impressed by the look of the MOS300 especially as they would be very noticeable in Room 2.
“They hang from the rafters,” he said. “If we had used yokes we would have had to install a frame to hold them higher so that they didn’t become an eyesore.”
A Martin Ego is used for a wall wash and, for variety, it can be hung either end of the room on the same switch outlet.
A JEM ZR12 DMX fogger is mounted in the ceiling just above the edge of the stage. It is aimed straight at a fan so that most of the fog shoots directly down onto the dance floor where it’s supposed to go.
Martin LightJockey is Craig’s preferred choice of light control for venues.
“You just have so much more flexibility with it,” he said. “Just about every other brand of lighting manufacturer sends all of their controller protocols to Martin to put in their control library.”
Room 2 also gave Craig the opportunity to extensively use Show Technology’s Pro Shop range of LED lighting. Five LED wall washers provide bright colour changes whilst eighteen LED multi-coloured changing tubes are used to dynamic effect. The tubes, which frame feature wall panels, slowly and constantly change colour totally altering the look of the room as they do so.
Craig was blown away by the Pro Shop LED products describing them as bright and very nice for the dollar.
“I can’t wait to see the new Pro Shop LED Par 56 fixtures which I’m hoping to install in another venue as soon as they are available,” he added.
www.showtech.com.au

Aliens invade Skycity Adelaide
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Skycity Adelaide has opened the first stage of its $20m redevelopment of the historic Adelaide Railway Station building which includes a funky new bar called Loco.
The development has opened up areas of the Adelaide Railway Station building that have been unseen by the public for almost 20 years. The project restores and heightens the magnificence of the old railway station building with many original features retained and restored. The resulting design is a sensitive mix of old meets new. Original vaulted ceilings and arched windows have been carefully restored as have the original old ticket windows.
The designers from Webb Plus were not allowed to touch the heritage-listed vault ceilings in the bar but they still had to create a ‘funky, hip and cool bar’. They decided to decorate and enliven the ceiling with lighting effects choosing twenty-four Martin Alien 02 colour changing fixtures to successfully achieve the desired result.
The idea to use the colour changing lights came from Simon Webb who was adamant that the light installation was simple.
“You can spend thousands and thousands of dollars on these lighting effects and they end up being way too complicated and consequently not used,” explained Sarah Dixon, Senior Associated Designer at Webb Plus. “So part our design approach - and Skycity’s brief - was that the lighting had to be easily adaptable and operational.
“The Martin Aliens worked really well. In fact the first night we had the Alien fixtures up and running I walked across the street from where you could see them through the windows and they looked fantastic. Skycity has requested that the colours stay in the red and pink spectrum although they obviously have the option to use any colour possible.”
Kevin Harris from Perth-based Pro-Design was initially approached to provide the lighting solution.
“The client had the original concept of using moving head fixtures which would have not been cost effective, difficult to maintain and too chunky in build for the venue,” he explained. “I recommended the Martin Aliens as they ideal for this type of environment. I showed the client tech specs to show their coverage and how they would look. Then, once the proposal was accepted, I delivered the schematics and data for the installation. I guess this project was done by remote control!”
Robert Joseph of Melbourne-based Point of View was the creative consultant for the lighting installation. At the Lightmoves headquarters in Melbourne Robert was able to visualise the project in Martin ShowDesigner, drawing the installation to scale and choosing the appropriate colours. The visualisation was presented to the architects who could clearly see the end results of the project thanks to ShowDesigner. The programming of the Aliens was then done in Martin LightJockey which enabled all programming to be done off site with only minor tweaking required upon full installation.
www.showtech.com.au

Project News December 2004 - August 2005

Project News October 2003 - November 2004

Project News August 2002 - September 2003

Project News up to August 2002