Expect a solid floor of manufacturer demos covering the latest gear — the kind of low-pressure, high-access environment where you can actually put hands on things without a show floor time constraint. The event is free to attend; 4Wall asks for an RSVP just to make sure Dowd fires up enough brisket. If you’re in the tri-state area and haven’t made it to one of these yet, this is the one to put on the calendar.

More directly from 4Wall:

Get ready for another exciting edition of the 4Wall New York Vendor Showcase! On October 29, from 3–8 pm, indulge in some of the best BBQ, drinks, treats, and hands-on demos from the top industry manufacturers. The Vendor Showcase is the perfect opportunity to demo the latest gear, connect with professionals in the industry, and enjoy great food all in one place. Admission to the event is free for all, but we encourage you to RSVP via the form below to help us ensure that we have enough food for everyone.

RSVP and get directions at 4wall.com.

The Dataflash name is back, and this time ETC has replaced the xenon tube with a full LED engine. The High End Systems Dataflash 5000 puts out 52,000+ lumens from a variable-white LED center (3200–7500K) ringed by an RGB LED array — and with an IP65 rating, it’s cleared for outdoor stages and festival rigs where the original xenon-based unit never went.

The original Dataflash AF1000 built its reputation on raw single-point punch — one xenon tube, one big hit of light, reliable enough that they’re still running in road cases decades later. ETC acquired High End Systems in 2017 and has been working through the catalog, and the 5000 is the modern answer to that legacy fixture. The core idea is the same: a dedicated strobe unit with more output and control than anything built into a wash or a moving head. What’s changed is everything under the hood.

The LED engine is always-on rather than flash-based, which changes how designers can use it. The variable-white center gives you warm or cool strobing depending on the look, the RGB surround adds color wash capability between strobe hits, and pixel mapping support opens up effects that the AF1000 couldn’t touch. Two dome accessories are included: a Reflector Dome for punch and atmospherics, and a transparent Eye Candy dome that shows off the full LED array. ETC backs it with a three-year fixture warranty and a five-year warranty on the LED array — which is a meaningful commitment for a fixture in this price class.

One thing to note: if you’re running legacy AF1000 rigs, the 5000 is not a drop-in replacement. DMX addressing and channel mapping are different enough that you’ll be reprogramming, not just swapping.

More from ETC:

ETC announces High End Systems Dataflash 5000, a high-energy strobe fixture capable of 52,000 lumens. With both an RGB LED array and a 3200–7500 K white light center, Dataflash 5000 offers bold color capabilities to meet any artistic vision. An IP65 rating makes Dataflash 5000 an ideal choice for festivals and outdoor gigs.

Dataflash 5000 has an LED engine that turns on and stays on. With the variable white light center and the surrounding RGB LEDs, designers can achieve both warm and cool strobing while also painting the stage with vivid color.

Included dome accessories make Dataflash 5000 even more versatile. The Reflector Dome easily attaches to the fixture face for powerful strobes and atmospherics. The transparent Eye Candy (EC) dome highlights all of the fixture’s bold effects.

Automated Lighting Product Manager Matt Stoner says, “With its distinct round face and dynamic color capabilities, Dataflash 5000 is going to bring a lot of visual interest to those productions that are looking to create high-energy moments.”

An expansive collection of strobe modes and macros make it easy to build the energy and looks required for any show. Get even more granular control with Dataflash 5000’s pixel mapping capabilities.

Tania Lesage, ETC Market Manager, says, “Dataflash 5000 is going to be a powerhouse in any setting. We are excited the IP65 rating means that outdoor productions can take advantage of this high-impact tool.”

Learn more about the Dataflash 5000 by visiting etcconnect.com.

The consortium behind GDTF and MVR is pushing the open data standards into new territory, with audio sector integration on the roadmap and recent work making the formats compatible with Open Sound Control and OpenUSD.

Seven years after launching the General Device Type Format, the founding group — Vectorworks, MA Lighting, and Robe — reports growing adoption across the industry. More than 60 manufacturers now contribute device files to GDTF Share, while 14 control platforms have implemented GDTF or MVR support.

The formats create what developers call a ‘digital twin’ of production equipment, allowing consistent data exchange between lighting consoles, visualizers, and design software. Recent development work has extended the system beyond DMX to support Open Sound Control, demonstrating the framework’s adaptability to different protocol structures.

The group is also exploring compatibility with OpenUSD — Pixar’s open standard that’s becoming a foundation for spatial computing and virtual production workflows.

Next up: expanding the specification into audio. The consortium says competitive differences are being set aside as more manufacturers recognize the operational benefits of standardized device data.

Strange Fuel, based out of the Canadian Rockies, has built something the industry has quietly needed for years: a networking course specifically designed for entertainment technicians — not repackaged CompTIA prep with a lighting console shoehorned into slide 47.

Conduit covers the full stack from signaling fundamentals through VLANs, multicast, IGMP, and spanning tree, with a direct throughline to show control protocols like sACN. The thing that sets it apart is a browser-based live network simulator — actual sACN packets flowing through a virtual show network you can click around and inspect. That’s a genuinely different way to learn this stuff compared to staring at static diagrams. The gap between “I can make it work” and “I understand why it works” is real in this industry, and this is a course built specifically to close it.

Testimonials from Cirque du Soleil and freelance PMs back it up — not marketing fluff, but the specific kind of feedback (“networking went from feeling like a mystery to something I can actually understand, talk about, and troubleshoot”) that suggests it’s landing with the right audience. Team licenses are available with discounted per-seat pricing from two seats up, with a team progress dashboard for shops that want to run it as staff training.

More from Strange Fuel on Conduit:

Conduit was built for the gap between “I can make it work” and “I understand why it works.” Build confident understanding of show networks — whether you’re brand new to networking or just filling in the gaps.

What’s covered:

• Signaling Fundamentals — encoding, modulation, and physical properties of signals that affect network performance
• Physical Transmission — how signals become frames and travel via Ethernet, Fiber, and Wi-Fi
• Ethernet & MAC Addressing — how devices find each other on a local segment
• Switching & Forwarding — MAC tables, flooding, and forwarding decisions
• IP Addressing & Subnetting — subnet masks, CIDR, and network boundaries
• Redundancy & Spanning Tree — redundant paths and loop prevention
• VLANs & Segmentation — logical separation on shared infrastructure
• Multicast & IGMP — correctly managing multicast traffic for reliable control networks
• Show Control Integration — how show control networks support common entertainment protocols

Pricing:

• Individual: $299 USD one-time — full course access for one person, three-year access, all future updates included, completion certificate, community Discord access
• Teams: from $219 USD per seat (discounted from 2 seats up) — includes team progress dashboard, bulk seat management, priority support, and custom onboarding for 25+ seats

No subscription. No credit card required to try it. Check it out at conduit.strangefuel.com.

Rebel Profile

The Rebel Profile runs a 600W 6,500K Peak Field LED engine rated at 22,000 lumens with a zoom range of 3.5° to 51°. Color mixing is CMY with variable CTO, backed by a 7-position color wheel that includes two high-CRI filter options (CRI 80 and CRI 90). The effects package includes two rotating/indexable gobo wheels (7 and 8 gobos respectively), a full animation wheel, dual prisms (2- and 6-facet), dual frost, a high-speed iris, and an indexable full-blackout framing system with four independently rotating blades and ±60° module index. Control is via DMX, RDM, Art-Net, and sACN, with Aria X2 wireless device management and NFC configuration on board. The fixture weighs 66 lbs and draws 950W max.

Rebel Dartz

The Rebel Dartz is the long-awaited update to the DARTZ 360, delivering four times the brightness in the same compact form factor. Its 150W RBL engine puts out a 1.5° beam at 125,475 lux at 5 meters with full 360° continuous pan and tilt rotation. The color system uses an RBL array with a dedicated True Green filter and variable CCT from 3200K to 16000K with a virtual gel swatch book. Effects include two gobo wheels (10 rotating/indexable metal gobos and 16 static-stamped metal gobos), dual stacking prisms (6-facet linear and 8-facet circular), and a heavy frost filter. Like the Profile, it carries IP65, Aria X2 wireless, NFC, and full Art-Net/sACN support. Five selectable fan modes include a silent setting. The Dartz weighs 35 lbs and draws 240W max.

Both fixtures are available through authorized Elation dealers. More info at elationlighting.com.

MONDAY, AUGUST 10

Chauvet Professional Strike Array Ultra: IP65 Blinder with a Motorized Axis and RGB Halo Ring

Chauvet Professional’s Strike Array Ultra takes the audience blinder concept and adds two things working LDs don’t usually get in one fixture: a motorized movement axis and a 120-LED RGB halo ring sitting independent of the main RGBA-WW pod. The result is a fixture that can punch stadium-level output straight into the audience, wash them in color from the ring alone, or do both simultaneously — and because the motorized axis flips between pan and… Read more

MONDAY, AUGUST 10

ProPlex IQ One+ Mini Gets v2.14 Firmware Update

TMB has pushed firmware v2.14 for the ProPlex IQ One+ Mini, the four-output PortableMount Ethernet-DMX node built for touring and temporary installation work. The update lands the same round of fixes and improvements that hit the IQ Micro in the same release cycle. The IQ One+ Mini is a 4-way bidirectional ArtNet/sACN-to-DMX node in ProPlex’s rugged BSH Mini PortableMount enclosure. It runs dual EtherCon ports for daisy-chain topologies, takes power via PowerCon with power thru… Read more

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11

Acme's Sana Series: Profile and Beam Built for the Same Rig

Acme Lighting’s Sana series pairs a 1200W CMY profile and a 1000W beam in a shared design language, giving LDs a matched set that pulls from the same look without compromising on either end. Sana Profile The Sana Profile runs a 1200W discharge source with a 6.5°–40° zoom ratio — a 6:1 range that covers tight aerial work and wide washes from the same unit. The optical train includes a full framing system with four… Read more

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11

ECCHO Live Has Two Events Coming Up You Should Know About

If you’re in touring and haven’t heard of ECCHO Live, here’s the short version: it’s the closest thing this industry has to an HR department for freelancers. Founded in 2011 by lighting director Chris Lisle and LD Erik Parker as the Touring Career Workshop — a one-day free event at Belmont University for Nashville’s touring community — it’s grown into a full 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving over 350 attendees annually. The rebranded ECCHO Live (Education, Community,… Read more

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12

ProPlex IQ Micro Gets v2.14 Firmware — ArtNet, RDM, and sACN Fixes Across the Board

TMB’s ProPlex IQ Micro is a compact two-universe PoE-powered Ethernet-DMX node — the kind of thing that ends up in every rack and on every truss because it just works. Version 2.14 firmware is a maintenance release, but it’s not a trivial one: there are seven specific fixes targeting ArtNet behavior, RDM port indexing, and sACN multicast group handling when paired with a managed switch. If you’ve run into weird RDM discovery or multicast gremlins… Read more

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12

Bitfocus Companion: The Free Shotbox That Ties Your Whole Rig Together

If you’ve spent any time on a busy show site, you’ve probably seen a Stream Deck sitting next to someone’s laptop, running a handful of cues or firing video clips without the operator having to touch their main console. Odds are, Bitfocus Companion is the software making it happen. It’s free, open source, runs on Mac/Windows/Linux, and at last count supports over 797 connections to lighting consoles, media servers, audio desks, video switchers, and pretty… Read more

THURSDAY, AUGUST 13

City Theatrical Multiverse Connect Module Brings Wireless DMX to ETC High End Systems Fixtures

City Theatrical’s Multiverse wireless DMX/RDM ecosystem just got a direct line into ETC’s High End Systems fixture lineup. The Multiverse Connect Module is a small plug-in device that drops into the Universal Connect Module socket built into select ETC fixtures — currently the Lonestar Prime , MegaPix, and GigaPix — and turns them wireless with a few menu changes. No external boxes, no cable runs, no workarounds. The module uses a USB Type-C plug connector… Read more

THURSDAY, AUGUST 13

Lighting Design Beyond Theatre — Allen Branton and Sharon Huizinga Put 50 Years of Live Event LD Knowledge on Paper

There are plenty of books on theatrical lighting design. Far fewer tackle the business and process side of live event work from the perspective of someone who has actually spent five decades doing it. Allen Branton and Sharon Huizinga have written that book. Lighting Design Beyond Theatre: A Process for the Evolving Entertainment Industry (Focal Press, 2025) is a practical, process-driven guide to live event lighting that has nothing to do with rep plots and… Read more

FRIDAY, AUGUST 14

Swisson XMT-500 Gets a Node App and Full RDM Package in Latest Update

Swisson has pushed two significant additions to the XMT-500 — a Node App and an Advanced RDM Feature Package — making what was already a serious field diagnostic tool considerably more capable as a day-to-day networking utility. The Node App is the bigger headline: it turns the XMT-500 into a portable 2-port Ethernet-to-DMX node, letting you configure protocols, merge modes, IP addresses, and universe assignments right from the device without pulling out a laptop. For… Read more

FRIDAY, AUGUST 14

CrewLAN PRO Adds OSC, API, and Bitfocus Companion to Its Local Crew Communication Platform

If you’ve ever tried to get a lighting console, a media server, and a mixing desk talking to the same crew communication layer without cloud dependency, CrewLAN PRO is worth a look. The PRO tier of the browser-based local crew platform now ships with OSC integration, a REST API, and a dedicated Bitfocus Companion module — turning it from a standalone chat tool into a connective layer that sits between your production systems and your… Read more

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15

ProPlex Takes Its IQ, Opto, and Switch Hardware Outdoors with IP65/67-Rated IP Series

ProPlex has been the go-to for touring DMX infrastructure for a long time, but the gear has always been happiest indoors or in a dry stage pocket. The new IP Series changes that — bringing the same IQ node electronics, Opto splitter guts, and GBS switching into enclosures rated IP65 and IP67, built for live outdoor productions, film sets, and any temporary install where the weather doesn’t cooperate. Three products make up the range: the… Read more

Three products make up the range: the IQ IP (an Art-Net/sACN-to-DMX node), the Opto IP (optical splitter), and the SGBS IP (a small gigabit switch). All three share a die-cast body with impact-resistant finish, an armored glass LCD with capacitive touch buttons, and run on universal mains (100–240V). The electronics inside are the same proven ProPlex platform — the IP rating is the story here, not a new architecture.

More from ProPlex on the IP Series:

The new ProPlex IP range is a game-changer in portable data distribution, designed for demanding outdoor environments, including live productions, movie sets, and temporary installations of all kinds. Built around state-of-the-art ProPlex electronics, these devices ensure long-term performance in even the worst rainy or dusty conditions.

• Powerful, proven, feature-rich ProPlex electronics
• IP65 + IP67 ingress protection rating
• Secure and uninterrupted data transmission even in rainy or dusty locations
• LCD screen with armored glass and capacitive control buttons
• Intuitive touch control, user-friendly interfaces
• Highly durable die-cast body with impact-resistant finish
• Optional backplates — various mounting options
• Mains power: 100–240V 50/60Hz

Learn more about the ProPlex IP Series by visiting proplex.com.

More from CrewLAN:

CrewLAN is a local communication platform for crews working on live productions. Chat, status updates, shared notes and tables, alerts, and a network-based shoutbox run directly within the local network — reliably, without being tied to the cloud, and independently of a stable internet connection. Crew members simply access a shared workspace through their web browser.

With the release of CrewLAN PRO, the platform is now taking its next decisive step: crew communication can be connected directly to existing production software and event technology.

At the centre of this development is the new CrewLAN Connect app. It expands CrewLAN with OSC, an API, and a dedicated interface for Bitfocus Companion. CrewLAN is therefore evolving from a standalone communication tool into an open and integrable platform for modern production workflows.

During a production, important information is generated in many different places: at the mixing console, in the lighting system, on the media server, within show-control software, or directly among the crew. CrewLAN PRO brings this information together on a shared level. Status updates can be transmitted automatically, actions can be triggered from external systems, and central CrewLAN functions can be operated through Companion-compatible controllers.

All communication remains local and continues to work even when the internet connection at the venue is unstable or unavailable.

Via OSC, CrewLAN can exchange commands and status information with mixing consoles, lighting systems, media servers, and show-control solutions. The API enables custom integrations with existing software and production workflows. The dedicated Bitfocus Companion interface makes it possible to assign important CrewLAN functions directly to programmable buttons — including status updates, alarm resets, and shoutbox control.

Learn more about CrewLAN PRO by visiting crewlan.com.

Swisson has pushed two significant additions to the XMT-500 — a Node App and an Advanced RDM Feature Package — making what was already a serious field diagnostic tool considerably more capable as a day-to-day networking utility. The Node App is the bigger headline: it turns the XMT-500 into a portable 2-port Ethernet-to-DMX node, letting you configure protocols, merge modes, IP addresses, and universe assignments right from the device without pulling out a laptop. For the tech who’s under a stage with no time to fuss, that’s a genuine workflow win.

The Advanced RDM Feature Package fills in the gaps that the base RDM implementation left open — editing device labels, start addresses, sub-device navigation, and remote resets are all now on the table. For anyone commissioning a large rig with RDM-enabled fixtures, this moves the XMT-500 from a diagnostic curiosity into a legitimate commissioning tool. Both are available as downloads now, and given Swisson’s track record of free firmware updates, there’s more to come.

As a refresher on what the XMT-500 actually is: it’s Swisson’s flagship handheld tester — 0.445 kg (just under 1 lb), 122 x 75 x 43 mm (4.8″ x 2.95″ x 1.7″), running on an internal Li-ion battery charged via USB-C. It handles DMX signal generation, real-time monitoring, precision timing analysis for DMX and RDM, and cable testing for both XLR and RJ-45. The etherCON port supports Art-Net 1–4 and sACN. The 2.4″ IPS TFT display stays readable in direct sunlight — important when you’re troubleshooting under stage wash.

More from Swisson on the new features:

We are excited to announce two powerful new features now available for the XMT-500: the Node App and the Advanced RDM Feature Package.

The Node App brings intuitive control over network and port settings, allowing for fast configuration of protocols, merge modes, IP addresses, and more — all directly from the device. With a clear layout and streamlined navigation, managing universes and port modes has never been easier.

Complementing this, the Advanced RDM Feature Package unlocks the full potential of Remote Device Management. From editing device labels and start addresses to navigating sub-devices and performing resets, this update gives users precise control over RDM-enabled equipment — right at their fingertips.

Both features are designed with speed, clarity, and ease of use in mind. Download them today and take your XMT-500 to the next level.

Learn more about the XMT-500 and download the new features at swisson.com.

There are plenty of books on theatrical lighting design. Far fewer tackle the business and process side of live event work from the perspective of someone who has actually spent five decades doing it. Allen Branton and Sharon Huizinga have written that book.

Lighting Design Beyond Theatre: A Process for the Evolving Entertainment Industry (Focal Press, 2025) is a practical, process-driven guide to live event lighting that has nothing to do with rep plots and repertory seasons. It covers the full arc of a working LD’s career in non-theatrical live events — building the task list, managing client relationships, choosing equipment, navigating the money side, leadership on the road, and how to get invited back. The 172-page book includes 84 color illustrations and downloadable supplementary materials including real venue docs, scenic renderings, schedules, a final light plot, and production photos from an actual realized show.

The chapter titles alone tell you this isn’t a textbook in the dusty academic sense: “A Brief and Incomplete History: Tales from the Wild West,” “Nobody Knows Anything, You Decide,” “Readiness at the Speed of Light.” That’s the voice of someone who’s actually done it.

Who Wrote It

Allen Branton is about as decorated as live event LDs get. His 50-year career spans more than 500 projects on every continent except Antarctica, starting with Alice Cooper, Diana Ross, and Burton Cummings in the mid-1970s. His touring roster since 1980 reads like a greatest-hits compilation: The Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Whitney Houston, Fleethead Mac, Bette Midler, The Who, Mariah Carey, and U2, among many others. On the television side, he designed 19 years of the MTV Video Music Awards, 20 years of the MTV Movie Awards, MTV Unplugged, two Super Bowl Halftime Shows (2003 and 2004), and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (2002 to present). He holds two Primetime Emmy Awards — for Bette Midler: Diva Las Vegas (1997) and the 2023 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony — plus a CableACE Award and a string of additional Emmy nominations. Performance Magazine readers voted him Lighting Designer of the Year four times. He has worked at Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, Red Rocks, Wembley Stadium, the Royal Albert Hall, the Rose Bowl, and the Colosseum in Rome.

Sharon Huizinga brings the academic and pedagogical counterpoint. She is Associate Professor of Lighting at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) and Program Director for the Academy of Live Technology at Rock Lititz — the purpose-built production education and R&D campus in Lititz, Pennsylvania. Huizinga holds an MFA in Lighting Design from UBC and has been a working LD and programmer since the early 2000s across theatre, live music, corporate events, and dance internationally. She is the bridge between the war stories and the classroom.

Together, they cover what Branton has lived through and what Huizinga has spent years figuring out how to teach. Jeff Ravitz, Emmy-winning LD and longtime Live Design contributor, summed it up well in his endorsement: “It took Allen and Sharon a career’s worth of experience to develop these ideas and compile them into an information-packed manuscript. Please take full advantage of their willingness to pull back the curtain on techniques and thought processes.”

If you’re working in touring, corporate, or broadcast events — or teaching the next generation who will be — this one belongs on the shelf. Pick it up on Amazon or directly from Routledge/Focal Press.