Retailer opens new shop in Billingshurst, West Sussex

For all Sound & Lighting needs, Peach have opened a new shop in Billingshurst, West Sussex.

With all leading brands available for purchase as well as a dedicated hire department with a vast range of lighting effects, Smoke Machines and PA systems all available to hire.

For further information please call on 01403 780900 / 780988, visit the website at www.peach-soundandlighting.co.uk or better still, why not pay them a visit.

AGM; Committee for 2010 / 2011 Time To Vote!

The next ShowNight on 21st March 2010 is also our AGM, a chance for us all to get together to discuss the association and vote for the next SEDA committee for 2010 / 2011.

There are six committee positions available:

• Chairman
• Vice-Chairman
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Membership
• Webmaster

Nominations are currently being accepted and must be submitted to the current Secretary (Brian Mole) in writing no later than 2 weeks prior to the AGM.  The closing date for nominations is therefore 7th February 2010.  You can choose to nominate yourself or put someone forward.  Each nomination received must be seconded by a FULL or Veteran SEDA Member.  Remember, only FULL or Veteran Members have voting rights within SEDA.

Please send your nominations via e-mail to dj@seda.org.uk, make sure you include your name and membership number in the email.

Cheers,
Brian Mole
SEDA secretary

Laser Safety for the Mobile DJ

It is important that we are aware of the risks and health and safety recommendations when using lasers during mobile discos or when installed in a night club. This article is written and taken from the five minute crash-course I gave to the SEDA membership on Sunday 17 January 2010 at the bi-monthly shownight in Maidstone.

Lasers are a stunning bright effect that stands out from other types of disco lighting. Due to their high brightness levels, there are risks and thus considerations to take when using and operating lasers. Most DJ and disco lasers are likely to be of the laser class 3B and no more than 500mw. It is highly recommended that you do not use lasers more powerful than 500mw, as they could potentially cause skin burn.

The main factor to consider when using a laser is the positioning and location of not just the laser, but the beams and final output picture it creates on walls, ceilings and floors. It is recommended that a laser beam should be, where possible, more than 3m above the ground. This is because the maximum permissible exposure (MPE) (which is the maximum amount of laser light a person may be exposed to) is very complex work out, this way we ensure, when possible, that we do not break the recommended MPE . Despite this recommendation, “audience scanning” of lasers is forbidden by law or the health and safety executive, as the risks may not be as high as they may seem at first.

“Audience scanning” means the laser beams are being directed straight at the audience. As the beams can therefore scan over people’s faces there is a risk of damage to the audience’s eyesight. Lasers are bright because the light source they use is pin pointed to a very small area; this creates the bright, vivid beams. If a (static) light beam is pointed into someone’s eye it can potentially burn a hole in the back of their eye. However this is painless and the person will be unaware of any damage that has taken place. Despite this, if a laser is moving fast (in making a pattern or moving around the audience or dance floor) then the risk of eye damage is dramatically decreased. This almost certainly (on laser models up to 500mw) means the audience won’t be exposed to more than the MPE meaning the use of “audience scanning” isn’t unsafe.

With all this in mind, it is still down to the individual operating the laser as to where it is positioned and how long it is used for. If you don’t want to lose the classic laser and smoke effect, consider pointing your laser effects slightly up onto the ceiling, so that half the laser can scan the audience whilst the other half creates a visual pattern effect. You should also consider using lasers in moderation, having a duty cycle will reduce the risks further and could also give your audience a boost of excitement every time you switch the laser back on.

Quick Facts:

• There are no laws on laser usage, who should use them, or how they should be used. However there is a document issued by the Health and Safety Executive with regard to the use of lasers in entertainment and performance.

• Generally, an operator of a temporary or permanently installed laser should follow this HSE document to comply with the venue’s ‘Public Entertainments Licence’ issued by the local authority.

• Lasers are classed together by numbers from 1 to 4. 1 is the safest, 4 the most dangerous.

• Most lasers between 5mw and 500mw are classed as a class 3B laser.

• Class 3B lasers can cause damage to the eyes, this is because lasers are very bright pin pointed light sources unlike conventional lights (which may be just as bright, however they are not compressed to such a small area).

• Class 3B lasers must fulfil several criteria points. These include: a key switch and warning labels. The key switch is intended to stop use by unauthorised people.

Additional Information:

• There is a one day course run by Laser Visuals Research Limited (www.laservisualsresearch.com) which gives a full, in depth explanation and safety tutorial about the use of lasers. A certificate of completion is awarded at the end of the course.

• Terralec (www.terralec.co.uk) have issued an in-depth document which advises users about the health and safety aspects to consider when using lasers. This document may be found here: www.terralec.co.uk/effects_lighting/lasers/296_0c.html.

Resources: Terralec Laser Safety Manual written by Laser Visuals Research Limited, www.laservisualsresearch.com and HSE website: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg224.htm.

SEDA ShowNight GO!

A small committee meeting the other night resulted in the decision that despite the snow, the first 2010 gathering of SEDA members on the 17th January WILL go ahead as planned!

We poured over sheets and sheets of meteorological evidence, checked out an monitored the paths of several weather formations, hurricanes and other umm stuff like that.  In a nutshell, it’s going to rain…a bit…we think but there’ll be no snow.

See you on Sunday!

NAMM 2010 – New Toys!

As I expected, a huge number of new toys are on show at the Namm 2010 Show.  Here’s a very basic rundown of what’s new so far…

NUMARK

• Numark NDX-800 – MP3/CD/USB and MIDI controller.  Think of it to be something like the Denon DN-S1200 but with a 7″ platter.
• Numark MIXDECK – The MIXDECK is a junior version of the NS7.  It basically comprises of a pair of NDX-800’s with a little mixer in the middle with the added benefit of an iPod dock.  It comes with, like the NDX-800, Traktor Numark Edition.
• Numark V7 – Ok, now take an NS7 and with a chainsaw cut off one of the decks.  The small bit you cut off is a V7.  A bigger version of the NDX-800 but also an ITCH controller.  It also features the effects and so on found on the NS7.
• Numark X7 - Ideally suited to sit twixt a pair of V7’s it’s basically a 4ch version of the 2ch mixer you see on the NS7 with a few more bits thrown in for good measure!  It’s still currently under development and hopes to set the world alight when it’s released some time later this year.  Will it have the Pioneer 800 owners quaking in their boots?  Probably not, but the V7 and X7 is aimed directly at CDJ owners.

DENON

• DN-X1600 – Take the luxurious DN-X1700 that is crammed with uber-brilliant DJ’ing technology and offload some of it.  Add V-LINK (a kind of MIDI interface for video devices) and ta-daaaah!
• …and that’s it…for now!

BEHRINGER

• VMX1000USB – It’s basically an updated version of the popular VMX1000 although probably (and hopefully) better built.  Click on the provided link to find out what it does…it’s quite feature packed and may tempt those who are currently looking at DENON to replace the X500 with a USB model.

More news as it comes in from our SEDA News Hound in Anaheim.

SEDA ShowNight 17th Jan

The Committee are working exceptionally hard to bring you the best ever SEDA ShowNight.  As we’ve already posted above, Clive’s Mobile DJ Show in Lacey Green has already been postponed due to the bad weather but we’ve been praying hard in the hope that Mother Nature takes notice.

Just a reminder that Rik from Pioneer hopes to be there with the brand new CDJ players, the 900 and the 2000 so you can all have a play.  Gary from Denon will also be there to answer any questions you may have about the new Denon kit on display at Namm 2010, the definitive geek-DJ Tech festival in the US of A.

KAM will be there with some new kit, noticably (and hopefully) their new range of lasers including the Ultimate Cluster and the Gobo Cluster.  If you notice, we’ve changed the featured video of the month to show off the Ultimate Cluster which personally I think looks like a fantastic unit, priced at around £199.  It is also my hope the nice man from KAM will bring with him the new KPM200DSP, a brand new 19″ rack mixer featuring 8 on board channel effects.  Probably going to be favoured by Karaoke jocks, it’s a 4 channel + 1 mic channel mixer allowing 4 line inputs and 3 mic inputs.

RCF and Mastermix will also be there to show off their latest products and our brand new guest retailer, RSD Sound & Music will help relieve you of all that hard earned christmas cash you have burning a hole in your wallet!

If buying pre-built speakers isn’t to your liking and you want more control over the look and build of your sound system, Tony Wilkes from Speakerplans and Matt will be on hand to show you some DIY speakers and just what can be achieved with a hammer, saw and some wood glue!

See you there!

Mobile DJ show postponed

Just to let you know that the DJ show over at Lacey Green has been postponed and will not be taking place this Sunday 10th January 2010.

Please see below…….

CRS1 – ENTERTAINMENT HOUSE

Postponed Due to Adverse Weather!
The event will now be on Sunday March 7th.
Please be aware that due to the recent warnings about the impending weather problems in the south, we have made the decision to postpone this years show.
As you are probably aware both Prolight, American DJ and Bose have a very long way to travel and as such we’ve decided to wait until the conditions aren’t so hazardous.
If you have any questions please contact us in the usual way!
Apologies
Clive