PROMAG Magazine Vol. 21 No. 4 | Page 3

upfront Fourth Quarter 2013 Volume 21 Number 4 PROMAG is published quarterly by Electrosonic SA and distributed to the professional audio, video and lighting industry. © PROMAG and Electrosonic SA. All rights reserved. Trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Editorial and subscriptions Managing Editor – Terry Bourquin 011 770 9800 or [email protected] Editing – Khuboni Communications Design and production – Cranberry Creative Solutions Cover image – Bidvest Annual Chairman's Awards 2013 - Photo: Zoom Photography Printing – Seriti Printing - 012 333-9757 Electrosonic SA Johannesburg – Electrosonic SA 33 Lily Avenue, Northcliff, Johannesburg P O Box 73515, Fairland, 2030 Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] www.electrosonic.co.za e-mail: [email protected] 24 hour AV Systems Support 0861 AVHELP / 0861 28 43 57 24 hour Lighting Technical Support 0860 MARTIN / 0860 62 78 46 Durban – Electrosonic SA KZN Units 5/6, 80 Rinaldo Road, Durban North P O Box 401130, Redhill, 4071 Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Crestron House 279 Weltevreden Road, Blackheath, Johannesburg Tel: [phone] e-mail: [email protected] Useful Links ADB Lighting – www.adblighting.com Compulite – www.compulite.com Crestron South Africa – www.crestron.co.za CM Lodestar – www.cmrigging.com Electron – www.electron.gr Elite Screens – www.elitescreens.com Green Hippo – www.green-hippo.com InfoComm (ICIA) – www.infocomm.org Kramer – www.kramerelectronics.com Litec – www.litectruss.com Martin Professional – www.martin.com Milos Structural Systems – www.milosgroup.com NEC Displays – www.nec-displays.co.za PLASA – www.plasa.org SACIA – www.sacia.org.za Screen International – www.screenint.com Sierra Video – www.sierravideo.com SIM2 – www.sim2.com PROGRESSING OR REGRESSING? CONTENTS I love watching news and current affairs channels; my favourite is the German news channel, Deutsche Welle - loosely translated as German Wave. As information from all over the world washes over me, I realise, with mixed feelings, that the theatrics of the South African political scene are no different from those in many other countries. While whistle-blower Edward Snowden takes a deep breath in preparation for his next exposé of the CIA, President Obama muses whether he really wants the telephone wire-tap information about Angela Merckel’s next appointment at her hairdresser. Large segments of the European population are disgruntled and would be toyi-toying – if only they knew how! Greece has ground to a halt, yet again. In Spain rampaging strikers are causing more damage than the running of the bulls, and in France travellers have been stuck at airports. Show me a country and I’ll show you corruption, mayhem, dirty tricks, murder, politicking and bungling. It would be amusing if it weren’t so pathetic and predictable. Politics may be regressing, but it is positive to note that in other areas humankind is forging ahead. In the AV and Entertainment Lighting Industries dazzling new developments and time-saving improvements come off the production line on a daily basis. There is a feeling of growth in our industry. It is a great feeling and PROMAG enjoys bringing you the good news and positive stories that create that feeling. In our cover article you can read about the SAIFTA Ceremony and the motivation behind Gearhouse’s decision to acquire a bank of new MAC Vipers. In 2013 two major theatres underwent massive refurbishments. The Ernest Oppenheimer Theatre in Welkom, has embraced the latest technology and is welcoming a new generation of theatre lovers. The iconic Market Theatre is ready to continue its role in putting the spotlight on social and political issues. In his time in the lighting and AV industry Bruce Genricks, Managing Member, has seen many developments. Some have been fads, but many have endured. In an absorbing article he maps out the Evolution of Videowalls. Once they were a rare sight - clunky racks of monitors. Nowadays these sleek seamless screens are standard at most events. That’s what I call progress. At the other end of the age divide, a 25 year-old lighting and video technician, James Valpy, was hand-picked to go on the road with Rihanna’s Diamonds World Tour. Find out why he is known as The Hippotech, and why prodigies like him are driving our profession forward. To paraphrase John Lennon: “Progress is what happens while you’re busy making other plans”. So, let’s leave the politicians and the activists to their regressive squabbles, and revel in an industry that’s surging ahead. On behalf of everyone at Electrosonic SA and PROMAG, I wish you a restful holiday. — Managing Editor: Terry DIARY 2 Shows and events worldwide – Integrated Systems Europe, Prolight + Sound 2014, Light+Building 2014, NAB SHOW, LIGHTFAIR International 2014 NEWS 3 The Ernest Oppenheimer Theatre revived, Crestron demonstrates truly integrated home automation at CEDIA 2013, 10K projector solves the problem, HFX installs Lunette curved screen, James Valpy - The Hippotech, Tommy invests in Martin Rush and 101s, Business Day TV gets the LED treatment, Windhoek dealer solves space problems, Kramer wins manufacturer of the year & systems product of the year AV awards, Curtain rises on Market Theatre revamp, DigiComm is going places, Hatfield Christian Church COVER STORY 12 Gearhouse bitten by Vipers FEATURE 14 The evolution of ?????????()QUI?AI=U QL((??() ???????!?aM@?????????????????)?????????????????????????????) ???????QM\????????????????????)?????????? ???????%???%=`?%I =4?????9P)c ????????%H?IL?????????????????????)!??????I????????????M??????E???????)?????????????5??????IUM ?AH??I \)i??????????)4? ??????!????A?????M????)%??????????????????????M$???????????????)M?? ???????????9??4???\???????1???)??????????????????????????????A??????)??????????????-?????-L?8?H?!5$????)%@????????]@????QaH???????????????????I??H????????????????????()QUQ=I%0((??()!????????????????????????????)????M?????()AI=5(+?L????????????????((?((0