Stage Directions

Elation Professional now offers eCast, a stage lighting control app designed for use with small to medium-sized venues such as theaters, houses of worship, mobile events, or night clubs. The eCast App is available from the App Store and requires a wireless Elation 4Cast DMX Bridge as the interface between lighting fixtures and an iOS device.

Start recording at up to 96 kHz today with the PreSonus® AudioBox Studio Ultimate Bundle, a complete solution that provides everything you need to do professional-quality production, including cables. Record with the ultra-mobile AudioBox USB 96 USB 2.0 audio/MIDI interface. A great choice for podcasters, sound designers, and mobile musicians, the 2-in, 2-out AudioBox USB® 96 is bus-powered, compact, ruggedly built, and works with virtually any PC or Mac recording software. It boasts two combo mic/instrument inputs with high-performance Class A mic preamplifiers, MIDI I/O, and professional-quality, 24-bit, 96 kHz converters. Here's a video on PreSonus' Studio One 4 Artist software: {youtube}v=FiUpCTZ_Lk8&{/youtube}

PreSonus® is shipping a new generation of its classic FaderPort™ USB production controller that incorporates elements from the company’s award-winning FaderPort 8. Here’s a video intro to the product: {youtube}v=opruQhXx7wM{/youtube}

Flex Rental Solutions, a provider of enterprise web-based rental management software, announced that it will be launching a special edition of their flagship product. Flex Gear Tracking Solution (Flex GTS) was created exclusively for companies and organizations that need to track their physical assets and materials — but not their sales, finances, or crew.

Astera LED Technology GmbH announced the official release of its AsteraApp™ for the iOS platform to public via its social network. The AsteraApp is now available for download for both iOS and Android platform.

Blackmagic Design announced the Blackmagic eGPU, a high-performance graphics processor for pro creative software such as DaVinci Resolve and VR. Designed in collaboration with Apple, the Blackmagic eGPU features a built-in Radeon Pro 580, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, HDMI 2.0, 85W of charging power, and four USB 3.1 connections. It comes in an integrated design that brings high-end desktop class graphics processing to MacBook Pro for professional video workflows and immersive VR. And, the Blackmagic eGPU is the first to support Thunderbolt 3 displays. Here's a review of the Blackmagic eGPU from 9to5 Mac: {youtube}v=EHyDcKaCGqg&t{/youtube}

Encoder specialist POSITAL has expanded its line of kit-style encoders for feedback for servo and stepper motors with new models that utilize the same mounting form factor as incremental kit encoders from US Digital, Broadcom, and other manufacturers. This makes it very easy to upgrade a motion control application from incremental to absolute position control.

Philips Vari-Lite, part of the Signify Entertainment Lighting Group, has released the VL800 BeamLine luminaire that it launched at Prolight + Sound last March. The VL800 is a linear moving head unit offering a wide variety of unique effects and animation options. Here’s a video of product manager, Martin Palmer introducing the VL800 BeamLine at Prolight + Sound 2018 in Frankfurt, Germany: {youtube}v=4q8AK1hOOtI{/youtube}

Back in 2012, Whirlwind expanded its product line even further with the introduction of its Power Link, a line of portable power distribution products. After two years of development, Whirlwind was granted a UL listing for its Edison boxes as well as its tour grade distro breakout boxes in the Power Link line.

Specially created for situations where the followspot operator cannot be placed behind the fixture, such as a truss or rear spot, the Robe RoboSpot™ Multi Device Control allows remote control of BMFL Follow Spot, Spot, Blade, Wash Beam, DL4S, DL7S, MegaPointe. and Pointe luminaires. The RoboSpot has been getting a lot of use lately on a variety of projects, including a large number on the recent Eurovision Song Contest production.
Here’s a video intro to the product: {youtube}v=iaIeUHGfV-M{/youtube}