LDI Awards Presented

The annual round of awards at the LDI Show took place at a breakfast presentation. (LDI took place in Las Vegas, December 7-9).

The award for sound product went to the Qu-Series of mixers from Allen & Heath. Designed for small to mid-sized applications, it was cited as being reliable and budget-friendly.

Cited as the best widget of the year was the long-running software Lightwright. The judges cited a ground-up rewrite that allows real-time collaboration and usage in many market sectors.

Named the best special effects products were hazebase's Touring 2 and Cube Hazer, which were lauded for easy maintenance and operation.

In the rigging category, ETC's Prodigy Balance took the honors. Among the features cited were safe operation, integrated brakes, and sensors to prevent runaway loads.

The Hippotizer Hyco MX media servers took the award for projection and digital media control. Among its many features, the judges noted it supports DMX-driven programming workflows.

At the same time, ROE Visual's Vanish Air Rental was cited in the projection and digital display category. The product's extreme transparency was obvious on the trade show floor.

In the architectural lighting category, The Black Tank's Tiny Light and Platform Driver system was honored for its "ludicrous mode," which reallocates voltage and current for greater efficiency in LED sources.

The Macula followspot system was cited in that category. The judges noted it added an "organic integration between operator and control surface," creating a more natural and fluid spotlight operation.

The latest version of Chroma-Q's Color Force, the Color Force 3, won in the fixture category. It doubles the output of its predecessors, is IP65-rated, and features the company's proprietary FlexOptics, which allows for fast lens and accessory changes directly from the fixture's face.

A sustainability award was presented to HyperPower's EcoVault, a 10kW battery power station that can support up to 31 additional 10kW battery packs in line. It also supports CamLock tie-ins and can recharge from various sources, including a 120V 20A wall outlet.

The winners of the show's booth awards were Elation (most creative use of light), CHAUVET Professional (best product display). Mod Scenes (best small booth design), and Martin (best big booth design). Glow Motion earned an honorable mention in the latter category.)

The show's Battle of the Busk competition resulted in several winners. FOH (Freaks of House, Syllia Newstead, John Holmes, Jensen Chambers on ChamSys + Pixera) were named the most creative. Flying Pixies -- Isabel Delgado, Nate Doyon, Markus Martinez, Pui Leung on Hog and Pixera -- were cited as the most unique. Take 512 -- Conner Lin, Cole Randall, and Lilly Pierce on MA3 and Hippo -- were deemed the most cohesive. Busk Till Dawn -- Eric Bodden, Tony Dash, Jacob Izzo, and El Lieu Wolhardt on MA3 and Hippo - were termed "jaw droppers." The industry choice award also went to FOH.

Pat MacKay Diversity in Design scholarships were given to lighting designers Bianca Akoa and Elena Hewett; projection/video designer Audrey Allen and sound designer Ashley Nava. Lighting designer Tait Truong was unable to attend.