The vast experience of fulfilling so many roles on every level of live productions has given Manu quite a thorough insight into how the entertainment industry works. Smart-Lab, Manu’s production company, is frequently called upon to provide guidance in production, technical management, or design. Together with LD Kristof Blancquaert from TCF, he has put on many great shows. Each of them pushes the envelope of the artistic process a bit further in translating the artist’s vision and combines this with the technically feasible into a visual masterpiece.

Their love for staging the best possible productions has often found them searching for the right fixtures or hardware. That’s why Manu created RALV (Robots, Audio, Light, Video).

RALV aims to deliver a higher standard of production for the job at hand, ensuring adequate tools are provided to supply the best performance possible, time and time again. RALV’s first acquisition for its rental fleet, open to everyone in the entertainment industry, were 16 Ayrton Karif-LT’s and an MA lighting grandMA3 light console.

The choice for the operating platform was a no-brainer, given the high standing reputation of MA lighting and the renown the leading brand has in the field of theatre and live concerts.

“I have been using MA lighting since grandMA1 and consider it to be a very stable, durable, and the most cost-effective lighting software platform.”

As for choosing lighting fixtures, the bar was set high. RALV needed a fixture with a powerful output yet compact in size. In addition, the fixture has to have excellent colour mixing, and high CRI values as many of the projects they are to be used on will be televised. And, of course, the moving heads should satisfy all the creative demands of the various designs RALV services through rental.

The Ayrton Karif LT delivers all of this and more. Its 14.000 lumen light packs a powerful punch, making it suitable from theatres to arenas. At the same time, the colour engine will set the right mood in every colour imaginable. Moreover, the fantastic zoom range ensures that it can be deployed as a versatile jack of all trades, from beam to wash light. Mid-air, it can deliver stunning looks with up to 48 gobos.

The fixtures were first used for Alex Agnew, to the great delight of Kristof Blancquaert, who looks forward to integrating them in many more designs to come.

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At FACE, we’re eagerly looking forward to seeing this magnificent lighting combination in action with Alex Agnew, EastMan, and many more Smart-Lab produced and  RALV-powered productions.

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