Artistic Controls Blog

Zero88 Jester ML48 in Taman Budaya Kuantan

Recently Taman Budaya Kuantan in Pahang has upgraded their Lighting Control Desk to the new Zero 88 Jester ML48 a 48 channel desk Lighting Desk with ability to control moving heads.  This was to replace the old Strand desk.

Taman Budaya Kuantan is located in front of JKKN building which is on the way to Teluk Chempedak, and once you pass the main traffic lights junction, just follow the signboard to Seri Malaysia Hotel on the left side of the road just before the Vistana Hotel.

Besides the open stage or platform located in front of the JKKN building, there is also an Auditorium inside the building, where the arts, theatres and cultural performances are held.

Taman Budaya Kuantan Pahang

Taman Budaya Kuantan Auditorium

In the Auditorium where the mixtures conventional theatre Lightings and Effect Lightings like DMX controlled LED color Par and Moving Head use in any production require an integrated control desk to control both the conventional lighting and effect lighting. Normally you will find this in a larger desk like in big auditorium or theater. The choice of Zero 88 Jester ML48 control desk was made because of ease to program of the moving head for the effect while storing the scene in sub master or memory.

The Jester ML48 offer users a cost effective solution for control of up to 30 moving lights. The consoles have effects engines, the ability to store palettes or preset focuses and use the comprehensive Zero 88 fixture library.

The JesterML48 desk also offers direct control of 48 dimmer channels. Playback is either via the submasters or through a traditional theatrical cue stack.

Zero 88 Jester ML48 training in progress

A full day Zero 88 Jester ML48 training was conducted on 26/4/2010 to the lighting operator. With the two dedicated lighting operator Mohd Shaiful and Ahmad Shah their learning of the desk was easily pick up and by the end of the training they can program the desk for the next coming shows.

For more info www.zero88.com

Last Wednesday on 24 March Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) launched the new high speed broadband called UniFi Broadband. For resident packages will come in 3 prices – RM149, RM199 and RM249 a month.

The three packages are the VIP5, VIP10 and VIP20 and the connections speeds are offered in 5 Megabits per seconds, 10Mbps and 20Mbps packages.  Similar packages will be offered to business subscribers for the same speeds at RM199 a month for 5Mbps, RM599 (10Mbps) and RM899 (20Mbps).

That means the up load and download data for VIP5 is 5 Mbps both ways.

The new service comes with a free standard installation worth RM300 and a free standard Customer Premise Equipment packages worth RM800 with a one year guarantee. Currently Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Shah Alam, Subang Jaya and Bangsar will have this access available now but soon more areas will be covered.

The only setback is that the packages is bundled with 8Mbps connection for a set-top-box for IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) and an initial access to 22 channels as well as Video On Demand library and interactive channels. The packages will also include a Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (Dect) phone as well as a Streamyx Zone ID for wireless web access and a 2GB email box. Telekom Malaysia is trying to penetrate the cable TV with the broadband transmission.

This could be some problem with those who just wanted the high speed broadband for internet access and not with this entire bundle.

Another setback is there will be a download cap on UniFi High Speed Broadband which is calculated on daily basis and if the cap was exceeded then their connections would be throttled down to about 10% of the purchased speed.

UniFi’s 5Mbps service is capped at 60GB of data per month, 10Mbps service at 90GB while the 20Mbps service has a 120GB cap.

Bu the latest good news is Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) on Friday clarified that the monthly data volume cap for its consumer UniFi packages will not be implemented immediately.

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Astro TV Launched HDTV on Dec 11

Rumors has surface recently that Acoustic & Lighting has signed a deal with Sennheiser Asia to become the Sole Distributor for Sennheiser MI range of microphones for Malaysia. For many years Acoustic & Lighting is just one of the dealers for Sennheiser in Malaysia and there are a few other Sennheiser dealers but now there is only one.

Acoustic & Lighting has been a pioneer in AV distributors in Malaysia and in the recent years with the aggressive marketing they have signed a few strong deal with a few well know brand and now with Sennheiser. To be the sole distributors the company must commit a big number for the sales of microphones and it has to be bigger than total sales by a few dealers last time. This will not be easy. I do not know how much they have promised to the Sennheiser Asia but it is certainly a bigger turn over. With new showroom being renovated dedicated just for Sennheiser products other player will have to buy from him.

With the sudden change of the marketing strategy by the Sennheiser Asia will certainly benefited other microphone brand like AKG, Shure and other microphone brands. They will fill in the gap where other AV company is now without Sennheiser microphone. Their sales will suddenly increases as well since Sennheiser has replace G2 series with a more advance and expensive G3.  Last year Sennheiser has launched G3 microphone is Renaissance Hotel KL.

Will these partnership of Sennheiser and Acoustic and Lighting benefit the market? We have to wait and see.

Astro B.yond

Last Friday Dec 11, our Malaysia’s Astro TV launched its HDTV or high-definition TV broadcast starting with  five HD channels starting with Astro Supersport HD, HBO HD, National Geographic Channel HD and History HD. More will be available from January on ward.

Subscribers will pay an extra RM20 per month (US$6) for the new Astro B.yond service.

Astro B.yond is  a multi-phased innovative service, starting with the country’s first high-definition (HD) broadcast. It is an Internet Protocol-ready next generation set-up box that can deliver high-definition TV.

Currently, Astro has 2.9 million subscribers in Malaysia, which translates to about 48% household penetration. Astro is targeting one million homes for the HDTV service in the medium term, with half of that figure expected in the first year to 18 months.

Subscribers wanting to take B.yond will get a new set-top box and smart card, a new outdoor dish and HDMI cable, and a new remote control. Customers returning an old box will have their installation fee waived.

As well as HDTV, Astro B.yond is offering a new and improved EPG and will in 2010 offer video recording through an external hard drive. Digital video recording, video-on-demand and IPTV connectivity are promised in phases over the next 24 months.

According to Astro there are about 1.2 million Astro customers is using HD-ready TV so it seem that the market is ready for HD content.

An artist impression of space ship-like Calvary Convention Centre

What actually happen to the construction of the RM100 million Calvary Convention Centre (CCC) a futuristic looking Convention Centre at Bukit Jalil. The recent news of the problem and delay of the project has appeared in The Stars News Paper recently.

As an outsider we feel that the problem attached with the construction of the convention centre has received unfavorable attention. We love to see this beautiful Calvary Convention Centre completed. As a specialize Light and Sound company there are plenty of design opportunity to propose the stage lighting and sound system to the 5000 seat auditorium and other facilities.

A recent visit to the site at Bukit Jalil we noticed that the project has been temporary stop work and nothing happening there.

In 2006 Calvary Church announced that they have planned to build a new Calvary Convention Centre in Bukit Jalil and was supposed to have been completed by October 2009 but it is now left temporarily abandoned due to the stoppage of work by the Main Contractor since April this year. But recently there has been some financial dispute to the construction of the Calvary Convention Centre added to the delay.

If the project were to proceed as planned and when completed it will have a six-storey multiplex will have total built-up of about 600,000sq ft.

The convention centre will have a sub-dividable auditorium that seats 5,000, a stage with facilities for theatre and musical productions complete with a fly-tower and orchestra pit and backstage facilities that include dressing rooms, lounge, prayer hall and storage space. It will have state of the art audio-visual & multimedia equipment, recording studio, seminar rooms and workshop rooms.

Other components of the complex include educational facilities comprising lecture halls, childcare nursery, and libraries for adults and children.

Other features of the project are a banquet hall, a multi-purpose community and recreational hall, a cafeteria and bookshop, hostel and guest apartments. It will also have a three-level car park.

We are looking forward to the end of the internal problem and the beginning of the Calvary Convention Centre.

This latest news came from Pro-Audio Central Magazines.

The Music Group

Following the departure of Midas from the established Bosch distribution channel in channel in Japan earlier in the year, both Midas and KT are now to be acquired by The Music Group, in an agreement that is slated for completion by 31 January 2010.

The Music Group, which is operated by Behringer founder Uli Behringer and long-time business partner Michael Deeb, owns the Behringer brand and is looking to provide a better setting for the prosperity of the well-respected Midas and Klark Teknik marques. ‘We plan to invest considerable resources and support into these brands, and look forward to learning from the achievements of their engineers to take Behringer and the Music Group brands to a new level,’ said Music Group chairman Uli Behringer.

‘Midas and Klark Teknik are at the pinnacle of their market segment,’ agreed Music Group CEO Michael Deeb. ‘They address a unique client base and have a different sales channel from our current core business, and will continue to operate autonomously under the leadership of [managing director] John Oakley while benefiting from the synergies of our combined efforts. All brands will take advantage of the Music Group’s extensive resources and industry-leading competencies including product development, lifecycle management, supply chain and logistics.’

‘The Midas and Klark Teknik brands epitomise the highest possible performance and reliability in the mixing console and signal processing markets,’ said Bosch Communications Systems senior vice president Robert Mulatz. ‘Within the professional audio business of Bosch, this niche market has not been defined as a core business area due to its size and specific requirements. With the Music Group, we believe we have found both the passion and the financial ability needed to grow Midas and Klark Teknik. Of all potential buyers that were screened, we have selected the Music Group as the best fit.’

‘For more than 20 years, I have devoted my life to designing the finest-quality audio products possible,’ added Alex Cooper, Midas director of console engineering. ‘It has been our goal to achieve the very best performance while continuing to broaden our market presence and expand our customer base. I am convinced that working with the Music Group will provide us with advantages that will help us maintain our high standards and grow the business in the long-term.’

For more info please visit www.proaudio-central.com

www.music-group.net
www.midasconsoles.com
www.klarkteknik.com