Oxonmoot returns

Last weekend saw the annual gathering in Oxford to celebrate the life and works of JRR Tolkien, and Startech were there to help.

One of the events during the weekend is a cabaret evening in the Dining Room at Lady Magaret Hall which Startech provided LED lighting for. In previous years the cabaret has been lit by more traditional fixtures, but that has meant laying 50 metres of 63 amp cable to get enough power in to the room. This year Startech worked closely with Mike Percival from Oxonmoot to provide almost a completely LED rig which could be powered from the existing supply in the room.

After the event Mike sent us the following:

Everything went very smoothly indeed. I think the bottom line is that we proved that in fact in a space that size it is perfectly possible to light an event of the nature of ours with 100% LED lights. I did use the source 4s
for two items - but one was laziness (the performer revealed at the last minute they wanted to use more of the acting area than they had told me when I plotted their lights, so it was easier to add in the source 4s than to
re-plot the LED profiles, but they would in fact have been better), and the other I only really included them because they were there!

Finally for now, please say a huge thank you to Chris and especially to Nigel for their help, without which our event wouldn't have gone as well as it did. 

Startech help launch the Land Rover Evoque

Hartwell launched the new Land Rover Evoque last week and Startech was there to help show off the new 4x4 at it's best.

Startech provided above and below car lighting, to give the cars that extra sparkle, as well as providing large screen to show all the promotional information. 


Beverley Bailey from Hartwell Cumnor asked Startech to supply and operate lighting for the launch night and the following test drive day in a marquee near Frilford. Beverley thanked Shanks, Startech's Technical Manager, for his work. "On behalf of Hartwell management and sales team I would like to thank you for your help with the launch of our new vehicle.  The lighting was perfect for the occasion and Shanks overcame the problems we had with the generator and distribution box without any hesitation."

A light at the end of the tunnel

Startech have undertaken a fascinating project installing a temporary lighting system into a railway tunnel to forewarn bats of incoming trains. A series of birdies have been rigged along the length of the tunnel and programmed to light up from the central point out to each end. This is designed to encourage bats to move into less exposed crevices and out of the line of oncoming trains.

This project is taking place in preparation for the new Oxford to London rail link via Bicester, which will involve a more regular and higher speed trains passing through the tunnel beneath Wolvercote roundabout.

Although the lighting design is simple to put in situe, there were a number of teams coordinating their aspects of the install and of course there was the added complication of working on a live railway line and during the night. Startech accepted the challenge and emerged from the train tunnel with sooty smiles.

The trial will take place over the next month to establish whether the lighting will have the desired effect on the bats, in which case a permanent installation will be put in place.

http://tiny.cc/y3i39

Sponsors of the Great Tew Horse Trials

Startech went for a rainy day out to the Great Tew Horse Trials at which we sponsored a cross country jump.

Vacancy for Audio Visual Engineer

We look forward to hearing from you!

Big Names at Roehampton Students Union Summer Ball 2011

Startech supplied audio equipment to the Roehampton Student Union Summer Ball 2011. This included PA and technical support for the main stage which was headlined by ‘The Streets’ and ‘Eliza Doolittle’ along with other acts such as the fabulous ‘Jon Paul Palombo’, the rather lively ‘One’ and the amazing human beatbox act ‘Duke’. Also gracing the main stage was comedian Lee Nelson. Startech provided both equipment and technical support for the DJ stages where ‘Chase and Status’ along with DJ’s from Ministry of Sound shared the stages with the RSU’s resident DJs.

More new lighting - Moving Head LED Wash Lights

Startech has just purchased a quantity of the Miltec MTM 324 moving head LED wash lights.
£35 each for 2 days, or £70 a week, these units are not only a powerful and versatile fixture, but affordable too.


The LED technology makes these units extremely light; at only 9kg each they can be rigged easily by one person. The also consume less than half the power of a conventional discharge source moving light of a similar output level.

‘Having used the units at a recent production, I found them to be extremely rugged and reliable. The movement was fast and smooth, and the control of the output very precise. They produce a fantastic range of vivid deep colour’s and, due to the addition of the white LEDs (RGBW, as opposed to the traditional RGB) they can be used to provide front light varying from ‘Tungsten’ cold through to CTO warm with fantastic even coverage.

We are also eagerly anticipating the arrival of the MTM 90P moving head LED spot light, and will report back when have had the first opportunity to try it out. However, if they're are as good as we’ve found the wash light to be, using the two together will make for an extremely powerful and versatile rig.’ AV Technician