Earls Court, London, UK — The winners of the 2010 Awards for Innovation and the 2010 Gottelier Award were announced Monday Sept 13 at a special presentation a PLASA 2010 (Professional Lighting & Sound Association) following a hotly contested nomination process that saw 62 products entered and six contenders for the Gottelier Award.
Seven Awards for Innovation and one Gold Award were presented by PLASA CEO Matthew Griffiths. This year’s prestigious Gottelier Award went to Electronic Theatre Controls founder Fred Foster in recognition of his work on many legendary products including the company’s control desks, dimmers, and the Source Four family of spotlights.
2010 PLASA Awards for Innovation
Martin Audio Multicellular Line Array (MLA) – Gold Award
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, “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.”
d&b audiotechnik B4 Subwoofer
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.
Clay Paky Sharpy
In the words of the Judges, “we never thought we’d see a 170W light that we could use in Wembley Arena.”
Robert Juliat Aledin
The Judges felt that Robert Juliat’s usual high standards have not been compromised in the search for a usable LED profile spot. The design allows the LED module to be retrofitted to the manufacturer’s existing tungsten fixtures.
Coemar Spa Reflection FullSpectrum
By locating rear facing LEDs at the front of the fixture, the unit’s reflector creates a homogenized beam that the judges felt successfully eliminates many of the problems associated with existing LED wash lights, especially the issue of multiple shadowing.
LumenRadio CRMX Nova Flex
This device was noted for its recent use of RDM in an architectural application, giving feedback from external sensors — thereby providing an energy efficient outdoor lighting solution.
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 also made three special commendations:
Shure PSM 900 in-ear wireless monitoring system, commended for a combination of flexible technologies.
Clay Paky Alpha Profile 700,commended for the high level of engineering embodied.
RevEAL CW color-mixing LED washlight by Prism Projection, found to have “notable color rendering, particularly in the natural and pastel colors, which makes it viable for use in theatre.”
The presentation followed a busy day on the show floor, with over 350 companies launching more than 500 new products. A total of £12,000 of the awards nominations fees was, as in line with PLASA Show tradition, donated to charitable causes. Matthew Griffiths commented: “The recipients of these awards showed once again how the most innovative thinkers in our industry continue to push the boundaries of what can be achieved by combining technological insight with exciting creativity.” PLASA 2011 will be held September 11-14, 2011 at Earls Court, London.
Photos: Fred Foster, ETC; Matthew Griffiths, PLASA. Courtesy PLASA.
