MONDAY, AUGUST 31

Vectorworks 2026 Update 7: Spotlight Fixes for Equipment Summary, Patch Dialog, and Numbering Stability

Vectorworks 2026 Update 7 is out, and for Spotlight users there are a few fixes worth checking. The Equipment Summary Key tool now reports accurate quantities for duplicated lighting device symbols — a reporting bug that would have quietly given you wrong counts. The Patch dialog is also fixed to correctly display DMX patching diagrams, and a stability issue that hit when selecting a lighting device after running Spotlight Numbering with all fields enabled is… Read more

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

ECCHO Live Webinar: Sarah Page on Imposter Feelings and Backing Yourself in Live Music

ECCHO Live is hosting a free one-hour webinar on September 15th with executive coach Sarah Page, aimed at women working in live music and touring. The session zeroes in on imposter feelings, overthinking, and the particular flavor of self-doubt that comes with building a career in an industry where you’re often the only woman in the room. The format is interactive — not a lecture. The session will cover why imposter feelings and overthinking show… Read more

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

grandMA3 Version 2.5: Masters Window, Channel Map, Locate, and a Big QoL Pass

MA Lighting has released grandMA3 version 2.5, a feature update focused on visibility, workflow cleanup, and quality-of-life improvements across the board. The five headline additions are a Masters Window, a Locate function, Channel Map in the patch, improvements to Phaser Recipes, and a broad pass of general refinements. Free download as always — onPC for Windows and Mac, plus console update. Masters Window Group Masters, Speed Masters, and World Masters now have a dedicated Masters… Read more

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

USITT Virtual OSHA Classes for Entertainment Industry: Fall 2026 Through Spring 2027

USITT and Risky Business Resources have a new round of virtual OSHA classes for the entertainment industry scheduled through spring 2027. All sessions are live video conference, approved for ETCP renewal credits, and require a computer with camera on throughout. OSHA 10 General Industry — Fall 2026: September 1–2, 10am–7pm ET | $225/attendee OSHA 10 General Industry — Winter 2027: January 14–15, 10am–7pm ET | $225/attendee OSHA 30 General Industry — Winter 2027: January 18… Read more

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

Obsidian NX3 Console Delivers 64 Universes in Portable Package

Obsidian Control Systems has unveiled the NX3, a mid-range ONYX console that packs 64 direct universes, motorized faders, and a 17.3-inch multi-touch display into a touring-friendly form factor. The console was developed with extensive input from working programmers and aims to bridge the gap between compact controllers and high-capacity touring desks. The NX3 features ten motorized faders with RGB backlighting that reflects active playbacks in real time, along with customizable backlit keys and encoders for… Read more

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

Mega-Lite Combines RGBW Lighting and Audio in New LSD Line

A new product line from Mega-Lite integrates architectural RGBW lighting with a full speaker system in a single pendant fixture, targeting venues that want fewer ceiling boxes. The Light & Sound Deco (LSD) Line centers on the LSD5, a 5-foot RGBW pendant that pairs a 96W LED engine with a dual-radiating speaker system. The fixture produces tunable whites and full color mixing, eliminating the need for separate ceiling speakers in the same footprint. The CV4… Read more

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

LightShark Consoles Get ArtNet v4 and Streamlined Cue Editing in Software Update

LightShark’s version 1.5.25 firmware brings expanded universe count, new record merge/remove functions, and built-in video tutorials across the entire console lineup. The update applies to all LightShark products: the LS-1 hardware console, LS-Core, LS-Wing OSC controller, and the LS-NODE streaming devices. The headline additions are Record Merge and Record Remove — programmers can now add or strip information from individual cues or entire playback stacks without the EDIT+UPDATE workflow. Multiple cues can also be opened… Read more

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

MediaMaster 26.0 Drops with New Interface, 4K HDR Playback

ChamSys has released MediaMaster 26.0 Stable — the first production release since acquiring the media server platform earlier this year, delivering a rebuilt interface, 48-layer 4K HDR playback, and tighter MagicQ integration. The release marks ChamSys’s “One Console. One Server. One Show.” vision taking shape, with the original MediaMaster engineering team now working full-time under the ChamSys banner. MediaMaster 26.0 is a ground-up rebuild of the 6.0 architecture with a new UI designed for faster… Read more

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

PR Lighting Launches Marine-Grade IP66 Moving Heads for Harsh Environments

PR Lighting’s new AQUA Marine 580 fixtures bring serious corrosion resistance to outdoor installations, with a double-layer coating and patent-pending sealing system rated for 1,500 hours of salt spray exposure. The AQUA Marine 580 BWS and AQUA Marine 580 Beam are IP66-rated moving heads designed specifically for seaside and marine applications where standard outdoor fixtures would deteriorate rapidly. Both fixtures run on either Philips MSD Platinum 25 R or Osram Sirius HRI 550W XL lamps… Read more

PR Lighting’s new AQUA Marine 580 fixtures bring serious corrosion resistance to outdoor installations, with a double-layer coating and patent-pending sealing system rated for 1,500 hours of salt spray exposure.

The AQUA Marine 580 BWS and AQUA Marine 580 Beam are IP66-rated moving heads designed specifically for seaside and marine applications where standard outdoor fixtures would deteriorate rapidly.

Both fixtures run on either Philips MSD Platinum 25 R or Osram Sirius HRI 550W XL lamps and pack a full feature set: CMY color mixing with a 12-filter color wheel, linear CTO, 17 fixed gobos, seven rotating gobos, four overlapping prisms, and an independent frost filter.

The BWS variant offers a 0°-2° beam, 2°-40° spot, and 3°-50° wash range, while the dedicated Beam model locks in at 2°. Movement specs include 540° pan and 270° tilt with auto position correction.

Construction uses cast aluminum and UV-resistant engineering plastic, with RDM support built in and optional Art-Net and wireless DMX available.

Learn more by visiting www.pr-lighting.com

ChamSys has released MediaMaster 26.0 Stable — the first production release since acquiring the media server platform earlier this year, delivering a rebuilt interface, 48-layer 4K HDR playback, and tighter MagicQ integration.

The release marks ChamSys’s “One Console. One Server. One Show.” vision taking shape, with the original MediaMaster engineering team now working full-time under the ChamSys banner.

MediaMaster 26.0 is a ground-up rebuild of the 6.0 architecture with a new UI designed for faster operation in programming and live environments. The software supports up to 48 layers of 4K HDR media with advanced blending and composition, combining video playback and pixel mapping in a single platform. Control runs through Art-Net and sACN, with CITP and NDI support for third-party integration.

Alongside the software release, ChamSys has begun shipping the MediaMaster VS range of dedicated servers. The lineup spans three models: the 1U VS1+ with a single 4K output up to the VS4+ flagship with four 4K outputs and optional SDI/HDMI capture cards.

Version 26.1 is already in the pipeline with USB-MIDI support, SAGA codec improvements, and CRA-compliant Sig-Net protocol support. A native macOS build is slated for MediaMaster 27.0.

ChamSys is offering a free upgrade to 27.0 for anyone who purchases 26.0 before the end of 2026.

[MediaMaster 26.0 is available as a free download from ChamSys.](https://chamsyslighting.com/software/mediamaster-software)

LightShark’s version 1.5.25 firmware brings expanded universe count, new record merge/remove functions, and built-in video tutorials across the entire console lineup.

The update applies to all LightShark products: the LS-1 hardware console, LS-Core, LS-Wing OSC controller, and the LS-NODE streaming devices.

The headline additions are Record Merge and Record Remove — programmers can now add or strip information from individual cues or entire playback stacks without the EDIT+UPDATE workflow. Multiple cues can also be opened simultaneously for editing.

On the protocol side, the update bumps ArtNet support to version 4 and doubles the available universes from four to eight. A new Unicast option lets users specify target node IPs directly.

LightShark also embedded a web-based user manual with step-by-step video tutorials accessible from within the console interface.

Learn more and download the update: lightshark.es

A new product line from Mega-Lite integrates architectural RGBW lighting with a full speaker system in a single pendant fixture, targeting venues that want fewer ceiling boxes.

The Light & Sound Deco (LSD) Line centers on the LSD5, a 5-foot RGBW pendant that pairs a 96W LED engine with a dual-radiating speaker system. The fixture produces tunable whites and full color mixing, eliminating the need for separate ceiling speakers in the same footprint.

The CV4 low-voltage driver powers up to four LSD5 fixtures independently, with control via DMX, Mega-Lite’s Total Control Server, or a built-in web interface. For low-end reinforcement, the LSDS8 subwoofer mounts to wall, ceiling, or floor, while the rack-mount LSDA4 four-channel amplifier handles full-range and dedicated LF outputs with integrated crossover.

The system targets restaurants, themed environments, hospitality, and office spaces where clean ceiling aesthetics matter as much as performance.

Learn more at www.mega.lighting

Obsidian Control Systems has unveiled the NX3, a mid-range ONYX console that packs 64 direct universes, motorized faders, and a 17.3-inch multi-touch display into a touring-friendly form factor. The console was developed with extensive input from working programmers and aims to bridge the gap between compact controllers and high-capacity touring desks.

The NX3 features ten motorized faders with RGB backlighting that reflects active playbacks in real time, along with customizable backlit keys and encoders for clear visual feedback during programming and playback. The 17.3-inch 10-point multi-touch screen provides workspace for the ONYX interface, with physical space beside the display for setlists or tablets.

Connectivity includes four network ports, support for up to three external displays, and an integrated power supply. The console is designed to expand within the ONYX ecosystem, with compatibility for accessories like the NX P motorized playback wing and NX K keypad.

The 64-universe direct output is a notable spec for this price tier, eliminating the need for external processing hardware on many productions. Obsidian positions the NX3 for live production, touring, events, and permanent installations.

More information: www.obsidiancontrol.com

• OSHA 10 General Industry — Fall 2026: September 1–2, 10am–7pm ET | $225/attendee
• OSHA 10 General Industry — Winter 2027: January 14–15, 10am–7pm ET | $225/attendee
• OSHA 30 General Industry — Winter 2027: January 18 – February 15, Mondays, 10am–7pm ET | $395/attendee
• OSHA 30 Construction — Spring 2027: March 1, 3, 8, 10 & 15, 10am–7pm ET | $395/attendee

Registration at usitt.org.

MA Lighting has released grandMA3 version 2.5, a feature update focused on visibility, workflow cleanup, and quality-of-life improvements across the board. The five headline additions are a Masters Window, a Locate function, Channel Map in the patch, improvements to Phaser Recipes, and a broad pass of general refinements. Free download as always — onPC for Windows and Mac, plus console update.

Masters Window

Group Masters, Speed Masters, and World Masters now have a dedicated Masters Window that gives you a centralized view of every master’s current state. Previously, tracking down which master was doing what meant hunting across executors and pages. The status center also gets improvements: World Master status now shows which world is being reduced and by how much, Group Masters status has been added, and a new Pause At End status indicator appears when that mode is active.

Locate Function

Objects spread across different executors or pages can now be found quickly with the Locate function — a practical addition for bigger shows where things tend to sprawl.

Channel Map in Patch

A new Channel Map view in the Patch gives you an overview of the different modes and fixture types available, making it easier to identify the right fixture type when patching. Useful when you’re sorting through multiple mode variants of the same fixture family.

Improved Phaser Recipes

Building on the Phaser Recipes introduced in v2.4, this release adds workflow additions and fixes. MAtricks integration is extended — you can now add MAtricks values directly to shapes in edit mode, the same as in recipes. Speed masters can also be entered via Speed Master in the MAtricks editor, acting as a scale factor on top of Speed From/To values.

Cleanup and Refinement

A significant portion of v2.5 is a focused quality pass rather than new features. Notable improvements include: Shapers now have mirror buttons in the special dialog (vertical, horizontal, rotation). The preset editor title bar is now editable. The message center now displays command line warnings and errors inline in the same color feedback as the command line. 3D visualization gets culling support for better render performance. The World Master for World 1 is now linked to the Grand Master and always shares its value.

MA has also published a v2.5 release webinar series and updated demo show files are included with the download.

Download grandMA3 v2.5 at malighting.com. Full release notes at help.malighting.com.

ECCHO Live is hosting a free one-hour webinar on September 15th with executive coach Sarah Page, aimed at women working in live music and touring. The session zeroes in on imposter feelings, overthinking, and the particular flavor of self-doubt that comes with building a career in an industry where you’re often the only woman in the room.

The format is interactive — not a lecture. The session will cover why imposter feelings and overthinking show up, how to build trust in your own judgment, tools for making clearer decisions under pressure, and practical strategies you can take straight into the next show day. ECCHO Live is calling it a lunch-and-learn, which means it’s designed to fit into a workday without consuming it.

About Sarah Page

Sarah Page is an Executive Coach for women in the music industry with more than 20 years of experience across major record labels, music merchandise, and the broader music business. Having spent much of her career as the only woman in the room, she coaches women to trust their judgment, stop overthinking, and back themselves. She built her music career in London, retrained as a certified coach in Los Angeles, and now runs her coaching practice from New York.

Details

• Date: September 15, 2026
• Time: 12:00 PM Central / 1:00 PM Eastern
• Format: Zoom webinar (free)
• Who it’s for: Women working in live music and touring

RSVP and more information at eccholive.com.

Vectorworks 2026 Update 7 is out, and for Spotlight users there are a few fixes worth checking. The Equipment Summary Key tool now reports accurate quantities for duplicated lighting device symbols — a reporting bug that would have quietly given you wrong counts. The Patch dialog is also fixed to correctly display DMX patching diagrams, and a stability issue that hit when selecting a lighting device after running Spotlight Numbering with all fields enabled is resolved.

Beyond Spotlight, the update lands general stability improvements across the board, fixes IFC/IDS data exchange reliability, and addresses several Architect-specific issues around doors, windows, and wall assembly editing. Project sharing gets a fix too — Room Finish Manager entries for space objects now correctly survive a Save and Commit/Close and Release cycle.

Full Changelog

General

• Improved general stability
• Improved stability of web palettes when using keyboard shortcuts
• Improved reliability of importing classes from other files

Interoperability

• Improved reliability of IFC and IDS data exchange

Architect, Landmark & Spotlight

• Fixed project sharing reliability — Room Finish Manager entries for space objects correctly saved and retained after Save and Commit and Close and Release
• Improved consistency of reference viewport appearance
• Improved accuracy of grade object reporting
• Surface length now calculates and displays correctly for grade objects with an invisible draw line

Spotlight

• Equipment Summary Key tool now reports accurate quantities for duplicated lighting device symbols
• Resolved a stability issue when selecting a lighting device after running the Spotlight Numbering command with all fields enabled
• The Patch dialog box correctly displays DMX patching diagrams

Update via Check for Updates from the Vectorworks menu (Mac) or Help menu (Windows). Learn more about Vectorworks 2026 Update 7 at vectorworks.net.