Earlier this month saw the return of PLASA 2023. For anyone who works in the entertainment technology industry, this is no doubt a permanent fixture in their calendar; a chance to see the latest products, speak with their peers as well develop their knowledge and expertise through the various seminars and discussions. This year, WL and its sister company SFL – both part of d&b solutions – were exhibiting on stand G1, catching up with old friends and making new connections. One of the staff members in attendance, Leo Humphrey, has shared his thoughts below about his three days in Olympia London. 

Whilst we now live in a digital age, nothing (for me) beats seeing a product in the flesh and experiencing its capabilities first hand. I was able to do just that several times at this year’s PLASA and came away very impressed with what I saw. Starting with the Astera Pluto Fresnel, this was a winner of this year’s PLASA Innovation Award and it’s clear to see why. The PlutoFresnel is an exceptional solution for film, studio, and event lighting, boasting an impressive output whilst only consuming 80W as well as having a beam angle of 15° to 60° without colour fringing. I was equally impressed by the Robe T11 Profile MFS, with its high-definition optics delivering precise projection, and its extreme, wide-ranging 10:1 ratio 5-50° zoom range coupled with a virtually controlled CCT range of 2.700K to 8.000K. This will actually soon be available as part of our Hire stock so anyone interested should reach out to our team. Another Innovation Award-winner was the Martin Mac Aura XIP. With the judges claiming ‘this product brings a different, considered approach to IP rating to the table without compromise on weight or output’, it’s Martin’s latest addition to the MAC Aura family of workhorse wash lights and the first fixture in its class to be rated for outdoor use – something which our customers have benefitted from. 

Elsewhere, I also liked Rosco’s Opti-Sculpt filters, which provide precise angular beam control and enable lighting professionals to accurately and affordably control the shape of their light with increased brightness over traditional diffusion filters. Our friends ETC were on stand B29 and showcasing a range of their latest products. These included the EOS Apex 10 console, which is engineered for comfort and customisation, with generous programming surfaces and the power to run complex lighting and media rigs. As the mid-sized console in the Apex class of lighting controllers, it offers a hands-on, professional workspace, which is powered by the award-winning Eos control software. ETC were also displaying the Hog 4 console with its brand-new colour engine, providing even more options and capabilities for its user and proving why it’s so popular when it comes to stadium shows, theme park installations, and concert tours. I also managed to capture a sneak peek at the external version of the ETC ColorSource Spot V XT which will be launched in the next few months. 

This year’s PLASA Show saw a 28% increase in visitors.

This year, WL and SFL were co-exhibiting on stand G1; on which a range of products were on display. This included the DPA 4055 Kick Drum Mic, which takes the traditional concept of a kick drum mic and turns it on its head, given it is one of the few kick drum mics that is not sonically pre-tailored to fit a traditional sound in a specific genre. Similarly, the Yamaha DM7 Compact was on show – a Dante-equipped versatile digital mixing console with unparalleled sound quality, ease of operation, and high reliability that make it perfect for a wide range of applications.  Also on the stand was the ‘Grabber’ – reminiscent of the grabbing machines you’d find in amusement arcades yet this one featured prizes kindly donated by some of the industry’s leading manufacturers. It proved to be a huge hit once again so thank you to GLP, ETC, TMB, City Theatrical, Le Mark and Dirty Rigger for their donations & Congratulations to all the winners! 

Staying with our stand, located next to this was the d&b Soundscape Theatre. This allowed attendees to experience first-hand the ground-breaking Soundscape technology; something which our Integrations team have recently used on a series of state-of-the-art projects. It also provided a home for a series of seminars and discussions which took place over the three days.  

It’s also worth mentioning that the Classic Gear Live display was back once again (by popular demand) – with WL lending some of its own historic equipment. Some of the iconic audio and lighting products on display included Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon sound system, The Beatles’ Abbey Road Altec monitor speakers, David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust tour equipment, Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells Midas mixing desk, Vari-Lite’s Artisan control console with VL2 and VL4 moving lights and Cadac’s first theatre mixing desk from 1983 – to name but a few. That’s a lot of history in one place and whilst PLASA is all about innovation and looking at products that will shape the industry’s future, it felt like a fitting tribute to look back at the technology which brought us to where we are today. 

Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon sound system which was part of Classic Gear Live

All in all, it was another fantastic PLASA Show, proving that, in an increasingly digital world, the appetite for this type of exhibition is stronger than it’s ever been. Thanks to all of you who came to our stand, spoke with our team and we look forward to returning once again next year.  

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