Barbizon Lighting Trade Show Reports
Updates from Entertainment Technology Tradeshows from the Barbizon Lighting Company
The Light Source is a North Carolina-based manufacturer of equipment for stage and studio. Known originally for their clamps, couplers and other handy hardware for mounting / hanging things, they have developed a robust LED lighting line.
New to the NAB Show this year were their MEGAFresnel and MEGASoft lights. Based on their original engine these new lights have a high CRI and great light output at for a good value.
American Grip continues to increase their internal manufacturing capabilities, with new CNC machines turning out parts for products across the catalog, including solid billet aluminum components for their popular BOA 220 Low Crank stand, which were previously of cast construction.
American was showing their new 40” 2-Riser C-Stand with black zinc and anodized finishes, guaranteeing unmatched durability. Legs are industry-standard, non-spring-load, with Rocky Mountain leg for use on uneven surfaces.
In addition to their own full range of lighting and grip equipment, American Grip provides thoughtfully-designed support equipment for use with the popular Dana Dolly system, including proprietary curved track options.
Backstage Equipment hit NAB this year with an incredibly useful cart. The SkyPanel 360 cart comes in a single and double cart, making it perfect equipment for the film and television industry. The SkyPanel 360 carts also come with a lot of accessories to fit your needs. Extremely well built and ready to hit the streets! These carts feature all-steel construction and house all SkyPanel 360 with power supplies and cables making it easy to move around with all your needs. The SkyPanel 360 dual/single cart comes in a black texture, weighing 435lbs with a max capacity of 1000lbs / 454.6 kgs. Backstage equipment also has them in stock and ready to be purchased.
https://backstageweb.comDana Dolly has added a few upgrades to their dolly options.
The Dana Dolly now is available in an extreme machined version. This dolly has every bit of metal removed yet maintains its total structural integrity. They are also available in neon colors!
The Stand & Wheel Kit now comes in a durable shipping case with wheelsets for the stands.
The Dana Dolly Drop Down Kit, which also now available with a durable case, allows your dolly tracks to be lowered right down to ground level from your stands. There is also a video that illustrated perfectly the advantages of this addition to your Dana Dolly kit!
Here’s a great vid of it by the team over at GripRigs.
Based in Charlotte, NC, The Light Source has been creating innovative solutions for hanging and lighting theatres, studios, churches and other places where people gather.
Their line of LED lighting is made in-house and can illuminate most any space.
The exciting release for NAB 2018 though is their new MEGABATTEN product that combines power and data in a pipe you hang the fixtures on.
The patent-pending MEGABATTEN dispenses with the traditional connector strip square or rectangular electrical enclosures by placing all of the wirings inside the pipe. Fixtures and scenery may be located over the entire length of the MEGABATTEN, and even directly over unused outlets.
This is accomplished by milling pockets in the wall of extra strong schedule 80 aluminum pipe to recess the power and data receptacles inside the circumference of the pipe. 20-amp Edison receptacles are spaced every 16” with a 5 pin XLR receptacle right next to it for data.
The MEGABATTEN is ETL listed to the UL 1573 Stage and Studio standard as a connector strip. The MEGABATTEN is listed to support a load of 30 pounds per linear foot when supported on a maximum of 8-foot centers. Power and DMX are available anywhere a light is placed on the MEGABATTEN.
The product can also be special ordered to be bent on a radius for circular hanging positions with included power and data.
Extreme use, rough conditions, and heavy payloads have been the hallmark of the Avenger brand since its inception. The Quick Action Jr and Baby Clamp fit right in with the needs of today’s professional riggers whether it’s in a theatrical or video setting. No more struggling to mount or dismount heavy or awkward fixtures to your grid or truss systems. Avengers quick release button will allow you the freedom to release the jaw of the clamp instantly from the pipe without having to twist the knuckle. Quick action clamps are available with Jr. receivers for your heavier fixtures as well as standard baby pins for some of those smaller lights in your kit. The Junior clamp can support a max payload of 220lbs and its baby counterpart can sustain weights of up 110lbs respectively.
Matthews Studio Equipment brings several updates to classic product lines as well as new equipment to their growing catalog of grip gear. An update to the K-Stacker, the K-Stacker II allows for (3) Kino Flo Select 31 fixtures to be mounted vertically on one position, or (2) classic 4-bank Select fixtures. The unit features junior pins at the base and out the side, for horizontal or vertical rigging, and a baby pin on the top for grip heads and other accessories. Also updated was the Dutti line with the Dutti Dock, which is a camera sled that, when paired with a quick release plate, allows for convenient camera support on any medium-duty light stand.
New products from Matthews included the MQ mount, a rugged T12 clamp that is designed to be a tight fit without the possibility of over-tightening and damaging the fixture. Also new is the panel stand, a crank-driven light stand with a combo mount and a low base, specifically designed to support long 120-profile fixtures in a vertical orientation without their running into the legs of the stand.
American grip has new accessories for your Dana Dolly this year!
The new Drop Down allows as low as 1.5“ from the floor to as high as 49.5” and is adjustable while the dolly is set-up. There is also a collapsible Drop-Down that is easier to store in a case. They are making some adjustments to the system based on feedback from NAB – but they are available now!
The Portable track system is still very popular. Made of aluminum extrusions, either schedule 40 or schedule 80, and gives a seamless ride that can be configured in 3, 6 or 9’ sections.