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SNAPSHOT: We Love You Too |
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Three of
Pearl’s lovelier lounge lizards pose with CSI’s
commemorative Club World Awards (January) issue, announcing
Pearl’s “Best Lounge” nomination. The
Rhode Island venue was one of 15 nationwide to host nomination
celebration parties, which also included a chance for
patrons to win a trip to Miami to attend the Winter Music
Conference, and the star-studded Club World Awards ceremony
on March 23 at Nocturnal.
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Powerful Luminaires
Color Play |
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Dallas, Texas-based Vari-Lite (vari-lite.com) has added
two fresh fixtures to the popular Series 2000 lineup.
Like their slightly older siblings, the VL2500 Spot and
Wash luminaires offer a 14 to 55 degree zoom range, and
both are fitted with 700 watt short-arc lamps for maximum
lumen output.
These new DMX-controllable fixtures also feature improved
high-speed CYM color mixing capabilities, coated-glass
dimmer wheels and separate dual-blade strobe mechanisms
for greater versatility in typical club and lounge environments.
The multi-wheel color-mixing system gives creative lighting
designers a full palette, from pastels to deep, super-saturated
colors. Total output is also infinitely adjustable, thanks
to the sophisticated dimming system. For added visual
variety, the pan and tilt motors have been upgraded, too.
With the VL2500, you can get the right amount of the right
color wherever you want it – right now.
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Four-Way Fixture
Lit And Quartered |
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Replace that truss full of stale static lighting with
a single, elegant moving light fixture. Orlando, Fla.-based
Techni-Lux (techni-lux.com) is now distributing the CS4
Spot Line from Studio Due.
This futuristic four-way fixture features a quartet of
moving PAR-64 size ACL (AirCraft Landing light) cans for
maximum visual impact. The individual lights are capable
of panning up to 270 degrees, and the whole unit can tilt
up to 200 degrees. Each 28V lamp is controlled by a dedicated
dimmer, and the entire fixture can be flown or floor-mounted,
either vertically or horizontally. The CS4 is perfect
for both PAR can and moving light applications, but takes
up less than half the space of traditional luminaires.
A two-can version, the CS2, is also available for situations
where even less is more.
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Synergistic DJ Mixer
Teamwork |
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it’s easy to build the perfect mixer? DJs want
one thing, audio engineers demand another, and speaker
manufacturers call for something else entirely. Luckily,
UK-based Formula Sound (formula-sound.co.uk) has managed
to get these three disparate groups together, and the
result is the FF-6000.
The mixer, which was designed with input from Funktion-One,
features four main input channels, as well as two separate
microphone channels. Each input is equipped with a three-band
EQ, a five-segment level meter, and a signal clip indicator.
The FF-6000 also gives users the option to switch between
linear and rotary faders using an easily changeable
panel. Multiple effect loops and master outputs make
this mixer flexible enough for the most demanding DJs
(aren’t they all?), and the balanced connections
keep extraneous noises out of your venue’s expensive
sound system.
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XLR Plugs
Making Connections |
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Cable-connection hardware may not be the sexiest product
category in professional audio, but without it, all music
would be of the “unplugged” variety. Lakewood,
N.J.-based Neutrik USA (neutrikusa.com) has introduced
the new NC**XX Series of XLR plugs.
Similar in style to the company’s NP*X series of
quarter-inch phone plugs, the NC**XX series is intended
to be easy to assemble and simple to use. Connectors come
in 3- to 7-pole configurations, so contractors should
be able to find the perfect plug for any application.
The die cast shell incorporates Neutrik’s unique
chuck-type strain relief, and is designed to eliminate
damage sometimes found on exposed threads. As a bonus,
the boots can be color-coded for convenience. The NC**XX
series is available in nickel housings with silver contacts,
black metal housings with silver contacts, and black metal
housings with gold contacts.
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Basic Decks
Rock The 12’s |
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To borrow
a phrase from Mark Twain, the news of vinyl’s death
has been greatly exaggerated. Despite advances in digital
DJ technology, many artists continue to spin traditional
12-inch singles. To meet the persistent demand for turntables,
the Bronx, New York-based company Gem Sound (gemsound.com)
has unveiled two new models for analog advocates.
Both the DJ-2100 (direct-drive) and the BJL-2000 (belt-drive)
turntables feature aluminum platters, S-shaped tonearms,
adjustable anti-skate mechanisms, removable target lights
and reverse buttons. Dual start/stop buttons allow DJs
to operate the decks in sideways “battle mode,”
and the +/- 10 percent pitch control fader offers fine
speed control for precise beat-matching. Cartridges and
slipmats included, too, so these babies are good-to-go
right out of the box.
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Night Grooves |
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The
top five releases of the month
(according to us)
Sander Kleinenberg, “The Fruit” (B.M.K.
remix) (Little Mountain Belgium)
Pretty boy Sander flat-out refuses to get stuck in that
Global Underground pigeonhole with this squelchy, dissonant,
risky slab of funk-drenched techno that recalls…yes,
we’re gonna say it…Razor & Guido.
Peter Rauhofer, Live At Roxy 4 (Star 69)
Say what you will about Rauhofer: When he remixes Madonna,
unexpected things happen. His bouncy, catchy mix of
the wrinkling star’s “Mother Father”
launches disc two of Roxy 4, which, by the way, is officially
commemorative: Rauhofer left the New York roller-club
in a huff in January. But you can’t beat the compilation
series he left behind – including this installment
– for relentless, head-spinning energy…and
endless fun for sample-spotters.
Vinyl Life, “Flashlight” (You)
This Ultra Dance track gives you some “Fired Up,”
some Superchumbo, but surprises with a quick left into
YO! MTV Raps territory. And these days, anything that
combines hip-hop with dance is worth its pressing in
vinyl.
Jennifer Lopez, “Get Right” (Epic)
OK, are we the only ones who realize that this is just
a poor man’s “Crazy In Love?” And
Beyonce can actually sing (on a good day).
Eric Prydz featuring Adeva, “In And Out”
(Jesper Dahlbäck mix) (International Deejay Gigolo
Germany)
The first in a series on techno god DJ Hell’s
Gigolo imprint – DJ Hell Presents My Definition
Of House – this runs the Adeva classic through
an electro filter, without losing its pleasingly old
school groove.
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Club-Specific Light Fixtures
Thinkin’ Of You |
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If high-powered
lighting instruments are threatening to overwhelm your
intimate martini bar (or your budget), don’t despair.
Robe Show Lighting (robe.cz) has launched a fresh family
of fixtures specifically designed for smaller venues.
The first two products in the new Club & Bar series,
the Fusion and the Funky, offer a tempting combination
of function and affordability. The Fusion projects a swirling
kaleidoscope through a 14-position color/gobo wheel.
The Funky uses a multi-color parabolic mirror and an effects/gobo
wheel to create flower effects. Both units are fully DMX-controllable,
and can also operate in automatic, music-trigger, or master/slave
modes. The two fixtures are fitted with 250W halogen lamps,
which should be just about right for the typical spaces.
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Affordable Line Array
Hang It, Stack It, Pinch It |
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For certain
nightclub applications, line arrays offer unparalleled
performance. Unfortunately, these specialized loudspeaker
systems tend to carry unparalleled price tags, too. Until
now. Grund Audio Design (grundaudio.com), a division of
the Council Bluffs, Iowa-based Grundorf Corporation, has
announced the introduction of the affordable (and adorable)
GALA line array.
The three compact cabinets that make up the system are
the GA-1021, a two-way enclosure with dual 1-inch horns
and a single 10-inch driver; the GA-2021, a two-way enclosure
with dual 1-inch horns and dual 10-inch drivers; and the
GA-1800, a single 18-inch subwoofer. The system comes
with certified and load-rated ATM Flyware to accommodate
a 12-box hang, or the entire system can be ground stacked
when no suitable rigging points are available. The GALA
system is easy to array, easy on the eyes, and with suggested
retail prices ranging from $1,699 to $1,999 per cabinet,
easy on your bank account, too.
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Directable Subs
Focus! |
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Do you want bass on the dancefloor, but not by the bar?
Candler, N.C.-based d&b audiotechnik US (dbaudio.com)
can make it happen with a Cardiod Subwoofer Array.
Using a combination of cabinets from the new installation-oriented
Qi-Series, three (or any multiple of three) subwoofers
can be set up to deliver greatly enhanced low-end directivity.
When powered by d&b’s D12 amplifier, a single
setting is all it takes. Now instead of bass all over
the place, you can keep the thump where it belongs.
The rest of the d&b Qi line is equally impressive.
The Qi1, Qi7 and Qi10 are passively crossed-over two-way
enclosures that match the performance of the Qi-Series
subwoofers. These highly efficient speakers offer three
different coverage patterns for specific applications,
and achieve maximum output levels of 139, 138 and 137
dB SPL respectively. Qi-Series loudspeakers look as good
as they sound, too, and all of the models can be supplied
in colors to match your venue’s decor.
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Blips and Beeps
Hard facts, informed gossip, and useless information |
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Junkie Planet: New York-based nightlife
network Clubplanet.com has acquired yet another site.
Miami-based CoolJunkie.com is now part of the Clubplanet
family, joining sibling sites Wantickets.com, NewYears.com,
and ClubTelevision.com. “In four short years, Nick
[McCabe, South Beach scenester] built CoolJunkie up, with
no venture capital, to be Clubplanet’s biggest competition
in the South East region,” explains Clubplanet CEO
and co-founder Andrew Fox. “We are very lucky to
have him.”
Spec Submissions Skyrocket: “Everyone
wants to be a DJ,” says the track, and with new
CD-enhancement technology, they’re all that much
closer. UmixIt gives music lovers the ability to isolate,
mute, change levels, and add beats to their favorite
songs. And a Cakewalk-powered “virtual mixing
board” allows them to plug their own instruments
or mics into their computer’s sound card, to play
or even sing along. The technology premiered on Aerosmith’s
You Gotta Move DVD, and was credited with increasing
its sales by as much as 100%. It will be available again
on an upcoming Webster Hall compilation, featuring tracks
by the Warp Brothers and Johnny Vicious.
Cross-Marketing Mojo: What do ladies’
handbags have to do with DJ equipment? When they have
names like “Reverb,” “Trance,”
“Mixer” and “Beatkeeper,” plenty.
The new Remix series of bags by Gwen Stefani favorite
LeSportsac doesn’t only name-check DJ lingo, it’s
also partnered with Gemini to showcase the company’s
sleek, all-white I-Series at LeSport’s Madison
Avenue flagship store. Fashion rules, indeed.
Fader Builders: London-based Eclectic
Breaks (EB) has signed a six-figure deal with UK audio
components company Seltron to produce the new retrofitting
Pro-X-Fade generic crossfader. “Too many companies
have shied away from dealing with DJ’s direct,”
says Seltron’s Michael Williams. “However,
we are a proactive company with knowledge of components
and manufacturing contacts, while EB is a very dynamic,
young company with a finger on the pulse and lots of
practical product ideas, making them true pioneers in
their field.”
Please Don’t Butcher Them: Murk,
nee Oscar G and Ralph Falcon, are set to launch two
new labels. Murk Records will carry their new work,
while Murk Classics will put out big-name remixes of
their legendary stuff. For its first release, 1992’s
“Reach For Me” will fall into the hands
of Steve Lawler and Desyn Masiello. Look for it in April.
Saturday Night Mass: The color-changing
dancefloor on which John Travolta twirled his sweet
thing in Saturday Night Fever is going the way of so
much nightclub memorabilia: It’s getting EBay-ed.
Built specifically for the 1977 film, the floor has
been inside Bay Ridge, Brooklyn nightclub 2001 Odyessey
– which was renamed Spectrum in the ‘80s
– since. Owner Jay Rizzo recently sold to a real
estate developer, who will demolish the building.
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Upgraded Moving Yoke
Power Color |
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Elektralite (myelektralite.com), distributed by Farmingdale,
N.Y.-based Group One Limited, has expanded its comprehensive
range of lighting fixtures with the new my250. The big
brother of the successful my150, this moving yoke features
the Philips MSD250/2 discharge lamp, which makes it even
more powerful and versatile than its predecessor.
The my250 offers operators a stunning array of eight colors
and bi-colors with rainbow effect, six rotating indexable
gobos, and seven additional fixed gobos. All gobos are
standard size and readily interchangeable. For further
visual va-voom, the my250 is equipped with a bi-directional
rotating prism, electronic focus, dimmer, and strobe.
Given its ability to pan 630 degrees and tilt 265 degrees,
this fast-moving fixture is capable of projecting the
right light in the right place faster than you can say,
“Blue spot on the cage dancer!”
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Power Distribution Unit
Juice Box |
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Is
that hopeless tangle of power supplies and cables in the
back of your audio rack bringing you down? Hudson, Wis.-based
Calypso Control Systems (calypsocontrol.com) is here to
help. The firm has introduced the PDU-75, a configurable
power distribution unit that eliminates the problems associated
with installing multiple external power supplies in the
same enclosed space.
This half-rack unit is the first in a planned series of
c_Power products, and provides selectable 5v and 12v DC
power to up to six separate devices. With a maximum total
output of 75W, the Calypso Control Systems PDU-75 has
plenty of juice to run typical rackmount processing gear,
and helps you keep your equipment organized. The unit
also has a front panel light that alerts users when 95%
of the available power is reached, so electrical overloads
are prevented, too. The PDU-75 carries an MSRP of $395.
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3D Controller
See More |
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French firm Daslight SAV (daslight.com) has added several
fresh features to its powerful Virtual Controller package,
including a USB DMX-512 interface. The compact interface
is compatible with all available consoles, and allows
users to transfer and save shows programmed on other controllers,
control the unit via a separate console, or even add a
real-time 3D visualizer to any console.
The new visualizer displays all fixture-generated effects
(such as double gobos) as well as texture and video on
objects. In addition, the software program now includes
a tool for CMY and RGB fixtures under the Matrix Manager,
so programming such fixtures has been greatly simplified.
Daslight products are distributed domestically by Omnisistem
(omnisistem.com).
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The Club Where You Live |
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This month: Miami’s Ivano Bellini
Name: Ivano Bellini
Venue: Space, downtown Miami’s
dominant megaclub, on the rooftop terrace
Party: “Sunrise Sessions,”
Saturday after-hours from 5 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Average crowd: 1,000 - 1,500
In your booth: “Two Technics SL-1200MK5
turntables (which I’m not using very much anymore),
three Pioneer CDJ-1000MKII CD players, one Rane MP 2016
mixer plus the XP expansion module, and one Pioneer EFX-500
effects unit.”
Your regulars: “Outside of the
season, half to 70 percent are regulars. It’s an
after-hours party, so it’s a mixed crowd. You have
21-year-old kids, and old people as well. A lot of people
working in the clubs in Miami Beach that close at five
come to Space afterwards: DJs, bar tenders, managers.
“I go to sleep, I wake up at four and I go to play.
On my way I stop for coffee, so I’m fresh and nice.
The interesting part is the mix of people coming who are
fresh, just waking up, still smelling good from the shower
and the other people who have been partying all night
and are in their own little world.”
Latest addition to your playlist: Dire
Straights vs. Flashdance - “Dire Flash” (white)
Song that’s still popular after months (“years!”):
Rui Da Silva - “Touch Me” (Kismet UK)
The overall crowd favorite: B & B,
“Can’t Get Enough Love” (ML)
The best part of my residency: “The
good thing about playing at Space is I’ve been doing
the party since day one, five years ago. Because it’s
a regular crowd I was able to mold and educate them. It’s
like playing in my backyard. It’s a funky room;
it’s outside so the vibe is happy and I can play
old stuff, classics and some crazy stuff that I wouldn’t
be able to play in other clubs.”
The worst part: “The heat. In the
middle of the summer when it’s 90 degrees outside,
full sun, humidity, it’s just disgusting. It gets
nasty when the sun starts to come up and hits right on
the dancefloor. It’s still packed and people still
dance, but it’s like, wow, I can’t wait for
October.”
www.sfprecords.com |
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LED Floor Tile
Walkway To Heaven |
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Los Angeles, Cali.-based B-Sure Company USA (b-sureusa.com)
has recently unveiled the Cocktail Palette floor tile,
part of the firm’s Cocktail series of DMX-controllable
LED lighting products.
Each waterproof panel features a steel base with a reinforced,
laminated, scratch-resistant non-slip glass surface, and
can withstand the force of thousands of pounds, so typical
club foot traffic is no problem. The three-channel panels
are connected to each other via 5-pin XLR cable, and can
produce 16.7 million different colors. B-Sure’s
LED light sources offer long life, resistance to vibration,
low maintenance, and low energy consumption. When turned
off, the Cocktail Palette’s glass surface has a
white frosted look, so your lovely, luminous LED floor
can go into “stealth mode” for more conservative
events.
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Powered Speaker
Activate |
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Self-powered speakers can solve a number of installation
problems, especially when electrical resources are limited.
If you’ve been searching for the right active enclosure,
check out the KV2 EX12 high-output, full-range 12-inch
speaker, distributed domestically by American Music &
Sound (americanmusicandsound.com).
Developed at KV2’s Milevsko, Czech Republic R&D
facility, this two-way speaker is equipped with some novel
features. The high frequency compression driver, for example,
is a 3-inch titanium diaphragm design with a radial phase
plug, a direct-drive Nomex voice coil assembly, and the
industry’s largest neodymium magnetic motor structure.
The onboard amplifiers provide 500W of total power, and
the cabinet is capable of 127dB sustained output. The
handsome, asymmetrical, trapezoidal Baltic birch enclosure
is built to last, even in less than ideal nightclub environments.
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Giant Moving Head
Wild On The Dancefloor |
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In clubland, bigger is almost always better, and the new
Legend 5000 from Hollywood, Fla.-based Chauvet (chauvetlighting.com)
is no exception. This brawny moving head boasts an intense
575W discharge lamp, two gobo wheels, indexing gobos,
motorized focus, a mechanical iris, a mechanical dimmer,
variable shutter/strobe, and a three-facet high-speed
bi-directional rotating prism.
For maximum flexibility, the Legend 5000 is equipped with
two color wheels, one with 11 solid colors (plus white),
the other with four solid colors, four split colors, and
two quad colors (plus white). When the dancefloor is ready,
both wheels are capable of variable-speed bi-directional
rainbow spins. Your patrons will love the wild effects,
and your lighting tech will appreciate the 16-channel
DMX-512 control, the automatic pan/tilt correction, and
the removable air filter. You’ll definitely like
the price.
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Three-Channel Mixers
Beyond Platinum |
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Edison, N.J.-based
Gemini Sound (geminidj.com) has just released two new
three-channel DJ mixers. Based on the proven Platinum
Series, the PS Series offers new features and a redesigned
layout.
The fresh PS-01 (shown here) provides six line inputs,
three phono/line inputs, split cue, RCA record outputs
and balanced master outputs. Each channel is equipped
with independent gain and three-band EQ, and the dual-mode
VU meters make it easy for DJs to visually monitor and
balance volume levels. The PS-02 adds two sets of three-position
kill switches, a dedicated microphone channel, and crossfader
contour and assignment controls.
These affordable mixers feature brushed aluminum faceplates
and replaceable crossfaders for good looks and long life.
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High-Output Foggers
As Dense As You Wanna Be |
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Antari has
just added three models to the Z-Series line of high-output
professional fog machines. Available domestically through
Los Angeles, Cali.-based Elation Professional (elationlighting.com),
these fresh foggers feature onboard DMX control, wireless
remotes, and re-cycle times of 35-40 seconds.
The Z-1200 has a warm-up time of 10 minutes, a capacity
of 2.5 liters, and can generate a continuous flow of 18,000
cubic feet of fog per minute. The Z-1500 has an 11-minute
warm-up time, a six-liter tank, and puts out 20,000 cubic
feet of smoke per minute. The flagship of the Z-Series,
the Z-3000, has the same features as the Z-1500 but is
capable of blasting out 40,000 cubic feet of fog per minute.
Foggy, foggier, foggiest.
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All-Inclusive Speaker Series
Get It, Together |
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The Buena
Park, Cali.-based Yamaha Corporation of America (yamaha.com/proaudio)
has just unleashed the complete Installation Series, featuring
seamlessly integrated speaker enclosures, hardware, components
and crossover networks.
With MSRPs ranging from $700 to $2,900, the 19 models
in the range include everything from a dual 5-inch full-range
to a dual 18-inch subwoofer. Cabinets can be stacked,
arrayed or hung, and multi-angled enclosures can also
be used as floor monitors.
To make life even better for club owners and system installers,
the entire line has been designed for easy, economical
mix-and-match applications. Uniform phase response throughout
the speaker series enables users to create custom systems
without hot spots or dead areas due to interference or
cancellation. The Installation Series also includes a
selection of horn coverage patterns so each room can enjoy
exquisite, even-distributed sound.
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Front-Projection Screen
Stop The Bleeding |
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Need a portable
video projection screen that prevents “image bleed”
on the back? The Screen Works (thescreenworks.com), a
Chicago-based A/V accessory manufacturer, has got you
covered.
The Matte Brite PLUS is an unsupported vinyl front-projection
screen material that effectively controls light transmission
without the need for additional blackout surfaces. The
result? Wider viewing angles, brighter colors, better
contrast retention and no ambient light coming through
the backside of the screen to wash out the video image.
Now the chillout visuals in your video bar won’t
spill into the main room during peak hours. It’s
all about control.
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