More tech than you can poke a stick at: Group Tech at ENTECH 2008

Entech 2008, held recently at The Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre Darling Harbour saw the world release of some new products and the Aussie release of a whole stack more. Group Technologies had one of the largest stands on display and managed to scoop a world-first release, amongst the bar chatting (erm, networking) at GT stand’s bar.

Australia’s Entech is more than a gear junkie drool fest, it’s more a “sound guy corroboree” where the Australian entertainment tech companies and enthusiasts come to evaluate, socialise, network and get a feel for where the industry’s going for the near and mid future.

For the Group Tech customer base, the future was clearly evident talking to the overseas guests from Camco, Digico, Nexo, RCF, Verlinde/Stagemaker and Quest/Powerwise. (The Quest representative was more overland than overseas).

The event stream was fast flowing from 2pm on the Monday with the world release of the DiGiCo SD7 mixing console. It’s the first time anyone was able to lay his or her hands on this hot new console and DiGiCo’s James Gordon came out from the UK to put the product on the market (so to speak). It will be the benchmark by which all other digital consoles will be measured for the next few years, and it really caused a stir amongst those in attendance.

Monday night at the Factory Theatre, had François Deffarges from Nexo giving a very illuminating talk on the new Geo technology followed by the obligatory GT industry party.

The GT bar was solidly patronised throughout the show and the Mariachi band announced the arrival of the bar’s star performer (Tequila) as introduced by GT’s Mark Ladewig, meanwhile the international guests, including Mick Anderson (Director of World Sales, Camco), James Gordon (Managing Director, DiGiCo), Nicolas Kirsch (Sales Manager Asia, Nexo), Federico Lugli (Eastern export manager, RCF), Hans Ven Der Moolen (Manager, Stagemaker division of Verlinde) and (Director of R&D, Nexo) were available throughout the show for questions and comments from all comers.

RCF created particular interest with the new super lightweight 750W Art 525/522 series and the new TT series 750W foldback powered monitors (20Kg) and the amazing powered TT-08 8″ 750-watt multi-purpose speaker. Federico Lugli from RCF was kept very busy talking to the expanding RCF user base about the new developments including the Powered TT33a and TT31a multipurpose Line Array systems that are rapidly being accepted as the most flexible system of its type on the market.

As for new Nexo products, the new economical PS12/Geo system has more attachments than a 1950’s vacuum cleaner and along with the new RS15 sub bass, is the first offering of NEXO’s RAY SUB Technology, were a great hit for the ears and not such a bad hit for the pocket.

Camco export sales manager Mick Anderson proudly presented the new Camco offerings for 2008 with a whole new look and features models that will be in the budget range of many who think of Camco as “top shelf only” product. The Q-Power Series is a range of four-channel, high output power amplifiers, designed to provide that powerful pure sonic performance synonymous with CAMCO.

New Quest product releases might have been at the back of the GT stand, but they were at the front of the value/performance index. The Q-motion timber dual concentric and timber two inch horn boxes aroused great interest and the ultimate “Aussie pub wedge” sold out the present production run before the end of the show.

All in all, the Group Tech stand managed once again to shake things up with some great new products, some visiting international experts and a vibe that can be summed up as electric. Thanks to all those who came along and helped make it possible. See you at the next one.

The RCF and Quest Engineering view of “Speaker Central” at the GT stand at Entech 2008