This year, for the first time, the PLASA Awards for Innovation were judged ‘live’ at the Innovation Gallery by an independent panel of 16 expert judges, in front of show visitors and a camera team.
Seven Awards for Innovation and one Gold Award were presented by PLASA CEO Matthew Griffiths
The Gold Award went to the Martin Audio Multicellular Line Array (MLA). Each and every driver in each and every line array element is controlled individually by its own channel of amplifier and its own channel of DSP processing. The judges commented that “coupled with the calculation software and the built-in networking, these features allow Martin Audio to take array tuning and deployment to new levels previously unobtainable using the human ear”.
They also felt that this level of integration to be revolutionary as it potentially allows the MLA to create a stable and phase coherent waveform throughout the audience listening plane, not just at the front of the cabinet.
2010 PLASA Awards for Innovation:
d&b audiotechnik B4 Subwoofer. The judges commented that, while cardioid subwoofers are not new technology, the concept of a passive cardioid sub certainly is. The judges were exceptionally impressed that, rather than using traditional DSP active technology, the B4 uses PSP – ‘plywood signal processing’.
Outline Audio Mini Compass i-Mode. This loudspeaker’s combination of generic IT and innovative line array technology, the judges found, represents a step forward for the industry in systems integration. The cabinet’s built-in web-browser support makes it possible to control a complete loudspeaker array from a plethora of industry standard devices.
LumenRadio CRMX Nova Flex. This device impressed the judges for its ability to act as a complete cross-protocol wireless lighting control system. It was also noted for its recent use of RDM in an architectural application, giving feedback from external sensors – thereby providing an energy efficient outdoor lighting solution.
Robert Juliat Aledin. The judges felt that Robert Juliat’s usual high standards have not been compromised in the search for a useable LED profile spot. The design allows the LED module to be retrofitted to the manufacturer’s existing tungsten fixtures. The 85-watt source will be upgradable to a 150-watt version as soon as the technology is available.
Coemar Spa Reflection FullSpectrum. By locating rear facing LEDs at the front of the fixture the reflector creates a homogenized beam that the judges felt successfully eliminates a lot of the problems associated with existing LED wash lights, especially the issue of multiple shadowing.
CAST BlackTrax – First Phase. This product uses WYSIWYG as a host platform to provide real-time three dimensional object tracking data to feed into a variety of position-dependent lighting, sound and rigging control systems. The judges felt that the flexibility and accuracy of the CAST system has taken this existing concept and successfully re-energized it.
Clay Paky Sharpy. A newly developed beamlight that uses a combination of innovative engineering and optical technology to achieve a distinctive, bright high-output from a 170-watt source. In the words of the judges, “we never thought we’d see a 170-watt light that we could use in Wembley Arena”.
This year the judges also decided to make three special commendations, which went to:
The Shure PSM 900 in-ear wireless monitoring system, specially commended by the judges for a combination of flexible technologies, including CueMode and RF mute, that allows the user to save significant time in setting up on-stage mixes.
The Clay Paky Alpha Profile 700, commended for the high level of engineering embodied. Clay Paky has both improved on their existing technology used in larger fixtures and scaled it to fit a smaller unit which, in the words of the judges, “now allows designers to be more creative on a smaller scale”.
Also specially commended was the RevEAL CW color-mixing LED washlight by Prism Projection, which the judges found to have “notable color rendering, particularly in the natural and pastel colors, which makes it viable for use in theatre”.