Our Blog
AVS was proud to be part of the inaugural Squamish Constellation Festival July 26 – 28. We provided a turn-key production solution for the Creative BC stage including a d&b V-series PA and concert lighting rig, all deployed on our SL260 dual covered wing mobile stage. We also supplied our SL-100Mix to serve as the main stage FOH production control area and follow spot position.
https://www.constellationfest.ca/
Held on the traditional, unceeded territory of the Squamish Nation, The Squamish Constellation Festival is a mind-blowing, heart-opening experience of music, art and community. Nestled at the top of Howe Sound against the stunning backdrop of The Squamish Chief and swathes of evergreens, you’ll find Hendrickson Field, the idyllic location for Squamish’s preeminent cultural celebration. Featuring two stages of continuous music and more than 40 acts of multiple genres over three days and nights, the weekend promises fun in the sun – and, of course – under the stars.
We have recently added the new xVision Touring G2 4.8mm outdoor rated LED tiles to our rental stock. The cabinet dimensions (w x h: 500 x 1000 mm, 19.68 x 39.37 in) result in quick installs/dismantles and allow for true 16 x 9 aspect ratio display configurations. Walls can be flown or ground supported and the unique rotary-locking system allows for “curvability”” at 0, +/- 5, 10 and 15 degrees.
We have recently added 85 inch and 98 inch models of the new QMN series 4K UHD resolution Samsung LED screens to our national inventory of Flat Panel Monitors. The size of these screens is truly mesmerizing, and they are a great solution when a screen and projector is not an option (smaller meeting rooms, high ambient light situations, etc).
The picture technology transforms content from any source to UHD-level quality and optimizes on-screen text and imagery with crisp edges and fine detail. Their ability to be daisy chained enables them to support multiscreen configurations and the on-board digital signage engine allows for content display without needing a laptop source.
We have just added a large number of the Chauvet Freedom Par Quad-4 LED lights to our national inventory. The technology is a game changer, providing true freedom of placement that would have previously been very challenging and requiring extensive rigging labour. These fixtures are powerful, bright and, truly 100% wireless with a rechargeable battery and a built-in D-Fi transceiver. Freedom Par Quad-4 has 20 watts of RGBA color mixing for that extra richness and variety that amber adds to colours. It can be operated by a console over wireless, with the on-board control panel, the included IRC-6 remote, or even from any mobile phone or tablet running the FlareCONmobile app. Freedom Par Quad-4 fits perfectly inside box truss and travels safely using the Freedom Charge 9 road case.
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To combat the ever increasingly busy wireless spectrum, AV Strategies has invested in Shure Axient Digital wireless microphones for all our branches. Shure developed the Axient Digital wireless solution to provide superior RF and audio robustness, as well as scalability and connectivity.
Axient Digital provides control for transmitters in a wireless system. Transmitter registration allows users to ensure that only desired units are passing audio, regardless of encryption status or model. Receiver channels can be linked to up to eight transmitters at a time, and the active transmitter can be managed and switched remotely. This enables the sharing of frequencies across transmitters that do not operate simultaneously, which is ideal for monitor mix tech’s that have to manage several bodypacks for their talent, or for presenters at corporate events, who may switch between a handheld or bodypack transmitter. Audio technicians have complete control over the system using Wireless Workbench 6, a powerful software suite offering command and control functionality.
Digital systems also tend to have ‘better audio’ from a dynamic range and frequency perspective because analogue wireless systems compress the dynamic range of the audio in order for it to be carried on a radio wave.
Our objective with any new equipment purchase is to invest in technology that addresses common problems and offers significant benefits to our clients. We are continuously researching the latest technology to ensure your event runs smoothly.
Last week, AV Strategies provided the complete audiovisual solution for the LINUX Foundation’s Open Source Summit North America which took place at the Vancouver Convention Centre WEST.
Open Source Summit is the leading conference for developers, architects, and other technologists – as well as the open source community and industry leaders – to collaborate, share information, learn about the latest technologies and gain a competitive advantage by using innovative open solutions.
AV Strategies has been supporting The Linux Foundation since 2011. We handle multiple events each year across North America. At OSS NA we provided a full suite of technologies and the complete audiovisual package for the keynote room which featured our d&b V-series line array for audio, our Christie HD laser video projectors for content display and our Christie X20 Spyder switcher for seamless matrix routing. We also incorporated our EPIX modules as a key set element on stage. These LED light boxes display a variety of visual content from our one of our lighting media servers and create dynamic colour and movement for the stage.
The show featured a large tradeshow component which we supported with multiple HD monitor displays, including technical support for custom mounting monitors in a variety of portrait and landscape applications at sponsor booths.
In addition to the plenary sessions and tradeshow, AVS provided audiovisual support for 24 breakouts with concurrent presentations. Our team was instrumental in the seamless execution of this major learning conference.
The Linux Foundation is dedicated to building sustainable ecosystems around open source projects to accelerate technology development and industry adoption.
Founded in 2000, The Linux Foundation provides unparalleled support for open source communities through financial and intellectual resources, infrastructure, services, events, and training. Working together, The Linux Foundation and its projects form the most ambitious and successful investment in the creation of shared technology. You can learn more about The Linux Foundation and the event here.
As many of you will know by now, our long-time friend and colleague Gary Power (Harley) passed away last week. Harley has been battling cancer for over 2 years and has shown great spirit and fortitude throughout his illness. Harley was determined not to let cancer stop him. He continued to work during his illness and was even scheduled to work the morning of his passing.
Those of you who were lucky enough to have known Harley will miss his incredibly big heart and down-to-earth positive, genuine energy. He has been in and around the rock and roll and A/V business for over 40 years and during that time he touched many lives.
We will miss Harley greatly and extend our sympathies to his family.
Once again, AV Strategies is proud to have been chosen as a key vendor to the Fair at the PNE.
Our SL-100 Mobile Stage is featured as the centerpiece of Festival Park, along with a distributed audio system for the venue. Stop by at Festival Park to watch a live performance, sing along with a band, and be amazed by the nighttime finale show! Our SL-100 Mobile Stage will be home to nightly acts such as Dr. Strangelove, Side One, R&B Allstars, and Groove & Tonic.
We are providing lighting and audio for the beer garden, audio for Celebration Plaza and Miller Drive, and we are doing the lighting for the Summer Night Concert Series at the PNE Amphitheater.
The Concert Stage will feature artists such as Chicago, Boyz II Men, Goo Goo Dolls, Cyndi Lauper, and many more. This is a large venue and we are implementing a large spectrum of our intelligent and conventional LED lighting inventory.
The Plaza Beer Garden is a fan favourite at the Fair and will once again feature the Dueling Pianos. This interactive act is highly entertaining and includes great audience engagement. The Dueling Pianos perform nightly.
Don’t miss the best part of summer! Download the complete Fair Guide to plan your visit.
As part of our ongoing effort to utilize products that are efficient, innovative, and environmentally responsible, AV Strategies has invested in new Elation LED Blinders to add to our national lighting inventory.
While blinders have been around for a long time, the new CUPIX Blinder WW4 from Elation is a marked improvement over older technology incandescent fixtures.
Our new 4 light blinders feature a weatherproof housing, individual control over each of the 4 lights, and a decay feature. Lighting techs no longer have to pre-program a fade into our LED blinders, as the desirable decay effect is built-in to each of the fixtures.
They also feature long life 100W Warm White 3,200K COB LEDs, a 62° beam angle, individual control of each COB module, manual pan focus, variable and selectable dimming curves, strobe effects, flicker free operation for TV and Film, 3pin and 5pin DMX and powerCon in/out connections. They also have LCD menu display with 4 button control panel, integrated yoke and side mounting brackets, and a multi-voltage universal auto switching power supply.
We spec’d these lights for the first time at the PNE last summer for the mainstage which featured bands such as Tom Cochrane, The Pointer Sisters, ZZ Top, Huey Lewis and the News, and the Doobie Brothers.
Our strategy of continuously upgrading our inventory with the latest technology in all our departments provides significant benefits to our end customers, a better experience for production companies utilizing our products & services, and it means we are using products that use less energy and reduce our environmental footprint.
In May, AV Strategies provided the audiovisual support for the G7 Finance Ministers Symposium in Whistler, BC.
The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, and the Honourable Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance, along with Stephen Poloz, Governor of the Bank of Canada, co-hosted the meeting of G7 Finance and Development Ministers and Central Bank Governors.
Cantrav, one of Canada’s premier destination management and event production companies, hired us to deliver the audiovisual solution. That solution included audio, lighting, large LED flat panel displays, multi-camera video production, and a live stream of one of the sessions using IBM Cloud Video. Through our partnership with IBM, we stream video through our webcasting portal which provides a highly scalable and reliable platform for streaming both live and on-demand video.
The secured closed-circuit stream was viewed by media and government staff in other venues throughout Whistler, so they could remotely participate in the meeting.
This was another high-profile event that required AVS to deliver a multi-disciplined approach with complex technical and logistical requirements while having a minimal impact on the meeting.
