Income Statement [Abstract] Net sales Revenue, Net Cost of goods sold Cost of Revenue Gross profit Gross Profit Operating expenses: Operating Expenses [Abstract] Selling expense Selling Expense General and administrative General and Administrative Expense Product design and development Research and Development Expense Total operating expenses Operating Expenses Operating income Operating Income (Loss) Nonoperating income (expense): Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract] Interest income Investment Income, Net Interest expense Interest Expense Other income (expense), net Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) Income before income taxes Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest Income tax expense Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Net income Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Weighted average shares outstanding: Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted [Abstract] Basic (in shares) Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Diluted (in shares) Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Earnings per share: Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Basic (in dollars per share) Earnings Per Share, Basic Diluted (in dollars per share) Earnings Per Share, Diluted Cash dividend declared per share (in dollars per share) Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract] Schedule of Goodwill Schedule of Goodwill [Table Text Block] Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract] Income Taxes Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract] Schedule of Fair Value Schedule of Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Table Text Block] Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Liabilities and Equity [Abstract] SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY: Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Common stock, no par value (in dollars per share) Common Stock, No Par Value Common stock, authorized (in shares) Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common stock, issued (in shares) Common Stock, Shares, Issued Treasury stock, at cost (in shares) Treasury Stock, Shares Schedule of Goodwill [Table] Schedule of Goodwill [Table] Business Segments [Axis] Segments [Axis] Segment [Domain] Segments [Domain] Live Events Live Events [Member] Live Events [Member] Commerical Commerical [Member] Commerical [Member] Transportation Transportation [Member] Transportation [Member] International International [Member] International [Member] Goodwill Goodwill [Line Items] Goodwill Goodwill [Roll Forward] Balance as of April 27, 2013: Goodwill Acquisition, net of cash acquired Goodwill, Acquired During Period Foreign currency translation Goodwill, Translation Adjustments Balance as of October 26, 2013: Segment Reporting [Abstract] Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table] Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table] Schools & Theatres Schools and Theatres [Member] Schools and Theatres [Member] Unallocated Segment Reconciling Items [Member] Segment Reporting Information Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] Number of business units Number of Reportable Segments Contribution margin Contribution Margin Contribution Margin Depreciation and amortization Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization [Abstract] Depreciation and amortization Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Non-allocated operating expenses: Other income (expense), net Segment Disclosure Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] ASSETS Assets [Abstract] CURRENT ASSETS: Assets, Current [Abstract] Cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Restricted cash Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current Marketable securities Available-for-sale Securities, Current Accounts receivable, net Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Inventories, net Inventory, Net Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings Costs in Excess of Billings, Current Current maturities of long-term receivables Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Current Prepaid expenses and other assets Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current Deferred income taxes Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance, Current Income tax receivables Income Taxes Receivable, Current Property and equipment and other assets available for sale Assets Held-for-sale, Current Total current assets Assets, Current Long-term receivables, less current maturities Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Noncurrent Goodwill Intangibles, net Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net Advertising rights, net and other assets Advertising Rights, Net and Other Cost of equipment is recorded as advertising rights where advertising agreements have not sold for the full value of the equipment at normal margins, reported on the balance sheet as noncurrent assets, and other assets not otherwise specified in the taxonomy. Deferred income taxes Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance, Noncurrent Total noncurrent assets Noncurrent Assets Excluding Property Plant and Equipment Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets excluding property, plant, and equipment that are expected to be realized in cash, sold or consumed after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT: Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract] Land Land Buildings Buildings and Improvements, Gross Machinery and equipment Machinery and Equipment, Gross Office furniture and equipment Furniture and Fixtures, Gross Computer software and hardware Capitalized Computer Software And Equipment Gross Gross amount, at the balance sheet date, capitalized computer software and equipment costs. Equipment held for rental Equipment held for rental Gross amount, as of the balance sheet date, of long-lived, depreciable equipment held for rental. Demonstration equipment Demonstration equipment Gross amount, as of the balance sheet date, of long-lived, depreciable equipment used for demonstration. Transportation equipment Transportation equipment Gross amount, as of the balance sheet date, of long-lived, depreciable equipment used for transportation. Property and equipment, gross Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross Less accumulated depreciation Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment Property and equipment, net Property, Plant and Equipment, Net TOTAL ASSETS Assets CURRENT LIABILITIES: Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Current Accrued expenses Accrued Liabilities, Current Warranty obligations Product Warranty Accrual, Current Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings Billings in Excess of Cost, Current Customer deposits (billed or collected) Customer Deposits, Current Deferred revenue (billed or collected) Deferred Revenue, Current Current portion of other long-term obligations Other Long-term Debt, Current Income taxes payable Accrued Income Taxes, Current Total current liabilities Liabilities, Current Long-term warranty obligations Product Warranty Accrual, Noncurrent Long-term deferred revenue (billed or collected) Deferred Revenue, Noncurrent Other long-term obligations, less current maturities Other Liabilities, Noncurrent Total long-term liabilities Liabilities, Noncurrent TOTAL LIABILITIES Liabilities Common stock, no par value, authorized 120,000,000 shares; 42,773,846 and 42,393,456 shares issued at October 26, 2013 and April 27, 2013, respectively Common Stock, Value, Issued Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid in Capital Retained earnings Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Treasury stock, at cost, 19,680 shares Treasury Stock, Value Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Liabilities and Equity Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract] Derivative Financial Instruments Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] Schedule of Guarantor Obligations [Table] Schedule of Guarantor Obligations [Table] Guarantor Obligations, Nature [Axis] Guarantor Obligations, Nature [Axis] Guarantor Obligations, Nature [Domain] Guarantor Obligations, Nature [Domain] Repurchase of equipment guarantees Repurchase of Leased Equipment Guarantee [Member] Repurchase of Leased Equipment Guarantee [Member] Performance guarantees Performance Guarantee [Member] Balance Sheet Location [Axis] Balance Sheet Location [Axis] Balance Sheet Location [Domain] Balance Sheet Location [Domain] Accrued expenses Accrued Liabilities [Member] Loss Contingency Nature [Axis] Loss Contingency Nature [Axis] Loss Contingency, Nature [Domain] Loss Contingency, Nature [Domain] Letter of credit and bank guarantees agreements Financial Standby Letter of Credit [Member] Surety bonds Surety Bond [Member] Range [Axis] Range [Axis] Range [Domain] Range [Domain] Minimum Minimum [Member] Maximum Maximum [Member] Guarantor Obligations Guarantor Obligations [Line Items] Guarantees: Guarantees [Abstract] Guarantees total obligations Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure, Undiscounted Guarantee liability Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value Performance guarantees outstanding Loss Contingency Accrual Warranties: Product Warranties Disclosures [Abstract] Standard parts warranty period Product Warranty Accrual, Standard Parts Warranty Coverage Term Product Warranty Accrual, Standard Parts Warranty Coverage Term Installation warranty period Product Warranty Accrual, Installation Warranty Coverage Term Product Warranty Accrual, Installation Warranty Coverage Term Movement in Standard Product Warranty Accrual Movement in Standard Product Warranty Accrual [Roll Forward] Beginning accrued warranty costs Product Warranty Accrual Warranties issued during the period Product Warranty Accrual, Warranties Issued Settlements made during the period Product Warranty Accrual, Payments Changes in accrued warranty costs for pre-existing warranties during the period, including expirations Product Warranty Accrual, Preexisting, Increase (Decrease) Ending accrued warranty costs Marketable Securities [Abstract] Marketable Securities Investments in Debt and Marketable Equity Securities (and Certain Trading Assets) Disclosure [Text Block] Earnings Per Share EPS Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] Basis of Presentation and Summary of Critical Accounting Policies Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Derivative [Table] Derivative [Table] Derivative, by Nature [Axis] Derivative, by Nature [Axis] Derivative, Name [Domain] Derivative, Name [Domain] U.S. Dollars/Australian Dollars USD to AUD [Member] USD to AUD [Member] U.S. Dollars/Canadian Dollars USD to CAD [Member] USD to CAD [Member] U.S. Dollars/British Pounds USD to GBP [Member] [Member] USD to GBP [Member] [Member] U.S. Dollars/Euros USD to EUR [Member] USD to EUR [Member] Measurement Frequency [Axis] Measurement Frequency [Axis] Fair Value, Measurement Frequency [Domain] Fair Value, Measurement Frequency [Domain] Recurring Basis Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] Fair Value, Hierarchy [Axis] Fair Value, Hierarchy [Axis] Fair Value, Measurements, Fair Value Hierarchy [Domain] Fair Value Hierarchy [Domain] Level 2 Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Derivative Derivative [Line Items] Foreign Currency Exchange Forward Contracts: Derivative, Notional Amount Fair value of foreign currency exchange forward contracts Foreign Currency Contracts, Liability, Fair Value Disclosure Goodwill Goodwill Disclosure [Text Block] Receivables [Abstract] Receivables Financing Receivables [Text Block] Schedule of Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Table] Schedule of Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Table] Geographical [Axis] Geographical [Axis] Geographical [Domain] Geographical [Domain] United States UNITED STATES Outside U.S. Outside United States [Member] Outside United States [Member] Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items] Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items] Net sales: Geographic Areas, Revenues from External Customers [Abstract] Sales Revenues Net sales Long-lived assets: Geographic Areas, Long-Lived Assets [Abstract] Long-lived assets Long-Lived Assets Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Table] Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Table] Major Types of Debt and Equity Securities [Axis] Major Types of Debt and Equity Securities [Axis] Major Types of Debt and Equity Securities [Domain] Major Types of Debt and Equity Securities [Domain] Certificates of deposit Certificates of Deposit [Member] U.S. Government securities US Government Agencies Debt Securities [Member] U.S. Government sponsored entities US Government-sponsored Enterprises Debt Securities [Member] Municipal obligations US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member] Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items] Less than 12 months Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, Next Twelve Months, Fair Value Greater than 12 months Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, After One Year, Fair Value Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities, After One Year, Fair Value