Product Guide: Lighting Control

PRODUCT GUIDE

LIGHTING CONTROL

Lighting control - whether hardware or software - is used to control multiple intelligent lights at once and many are able to control special effects fixtures too. Lighting control devices are also equipped to manage the intensity of the lights by communicating via an electronic control protocol, such at DMX512.

“Lighting control often feels like the foundation to any good lighting system; the linchpin of how well a tech rehearsal goes, or how happy a customer will be with their new auditorium when you hand it over. With technology in general changing so quickly, it feels absolutely imperative that these products not only remain innovative in their design, but also stay intuitive for the people interacting with them - a hard balance to keep.”

“Lighting control is the art of creating emotions with light. Today’s lighting control solutions, like the ones from MA Lighting, are tools that further, allowing lighting designers and their teams to control almost any device. A huge step forward for harmonisation, will be the new GDTF and MVR protocols. These that allow the lighting control system to understand the devices and exchange the information with visualisation and planning tools.”

“Today’s shows are getting very complicated with video and lighting technology. Every designer is pushing the envelope with a seemingly unlimited arsenal of tools. Streamlined control of your complete visual canvas from programming to playback is paramount. Avolites’ goal in combining lighting console and media server control with Synergy software is to keep the process as visual and intuitive possible. Spend more time dreaming up ‘looks’, less time programming.”

Avolites Sapphire Touch

The Sapphire Touch is Avolites flagship console with high performance features and the power to control larger and more challenging shows. The Sapphire Touch has 45 motorised faders, as well as another 20 programmable macro buttons for greater freedom of expression. The console outputs 16 DMX universes and can be networked with the Titan Net Processor to expand to up to 64 universes. The Sapphire boasts two 15.6-inch touch screens for seamless programming and visualisation. This is the ideal console for Titan and Ai v12 that includes Synergy - a feature set which integrates lighting and video into one intuitive system and benefits for the twin touchscreen workspace. www.avolites.com

Chromateq CQSA 1024

The new CQSA 1024 hardware includes all the latest standalone features, like SD card, multiple zone management, advanced standalone menus with additional page and auto colour mode, standalone mode customisation (the ability to choose what mode to activate or not in standalone), split and merge DMX signals and light intensity sensor. CQSA 1024 has eight selection and four option buttons, seven dry contacts, SD card slot, multiple zone mode (it can play up to five scenes at a time on 1,024 channels), triggers scenes by DMX in and can merge two signals. The SD card reader can support all FAT formats, memory size and speeds. Simply add your show file to the SD card with the Chromateq software and power the interface. This allows more possibilities and the flexibility to easily update a show with a SD card and there are no limitations to memory capacity. CQSA is compatible with Led Player, Pro DMX, Studio DMX and new Pixxem software and unlocks up to 16 Art-Net output universes from the computer. www.chromateq.com

Daslight Daslight 4

With over 15,000 lighting fixtures, a new effects generation engine and iPhone/ iPad/Android control - Daslight 4 lets users create bigger and better light shows easier than ever before. Daslight 4 can be used with any DMX512 compatible lighting fixture. Lights are linked to a PC or Mac by connecting an XLR cable to one of Daslight’s DVC4 USB or Ethernet DMX interfaces. Users can choose from Daslight’s library of over 15,000 fixture personalities (SSL2 files), or create their own using the Scan Library Editor (included). Adding a lighting fixture to a show is as simple as dragging from the library and dropping onto the patch grid. Map out lighting fixtures on the 2D view, either by dragging and dropping or using the shape generator to create lines, circles and matrices. Create a different layout for each type of light, and then a master layout, which can be shown by clicking the General tab. Lights can also be sorted into groups for quick selection. Users can build their show with ease using Daslight 4: create a scene, select some lighting fixtures, and set the levels with the faders. Create a dynamic scene by adding steps. Jump between steps with wait times or change gradually with a fade time. Scenes can be arranged into colour coded groups and stacked to quickly combine different effects. Daslight 4 has packed in over 150 scenes on a 1920x1200 screen without moving and scrolling windows. The new live toolbox provides touch-screen friendly buttons for creating live edits, jumping between scenes, tapping a pulse and more. Users can layout their show with moving heads, scanners, LEDs, trussing and staging. Pre-render lighting effects, colours, dimmers and gobos with the all new real-time 3D visualisation tool. www.daslight.com

Compulite Vibe

The Vibe family is an advanced line of intuitive and flexible lighting control consoles. These consoles utilise multi-touch screen technology and provide lighting operators with a virtually unlimited number of touch controller buttons and faders. Using a keypad and motorised faders for fast fixture selection and control, they enable quick access and are very powerful. Designed using the latest technologies available, the Vibe family is optimised for graphical speed and network connectivity, providing lighting professionals all the tools needed to realise even the largest production. www.compulite.com

ETC EOS

ETC’s Eos family of entertainment lighting control brings award-winning technology in consoles that are suitable for any size venue and budget. As part of the latest v3.0 software, ETC has created a new fully integrated 3D programming environment, Augment3d. Eos users will be able to control and design in three dimensional space, while also interacting with their fixtures through augmented reality via Eos focus remote apps. Augment3d will be available as a free upgrade later this year for any Eos console running Windows 7 or later including the flagship Eos Ti and the compact but powerful Gio @5. ETC’s leading lighting console, Eos Ti, combines powerful hardware and software with large-format, high-resolution multi-touch displays. Gio @5 brings the same high-end control in a portable console that meets venues with smaller spaces and budgets. The Eos family of lighting control offers advanced, powerful programming technology and unprecedented colour control tools. There are products for every scale of application, including theatre, TV, film or live events. ETC’s Eos platform provides a sophisticated environment that is acknowledged as a leader in the industry. www.etcconnect.com

ENTTEC Pixel Octo

The new Pixel Octo from ENTTEC allows for the control of LED digital pixel strips through an intuitive web interface, or by receiving up to eight universes of eDMX. Each of the Pixel Octo’s two outputs can support both three-wire and four-wire LED pixel protocols, ensuring a compatibility with a wide range of the most popular products. In addition to this, ENTTEC consulted many industry professionals to ensure that the Pixel Octo would be the ultimate installerfriendly device. The end result features a market-leading variable voltage input range of 4V-60V, an internal temperature sensor, forward facing LED indicators, a robust metal DIN-mountable form factor, and an easy solution for linking multiple units together using an integrated network switch for the highest level of cabling efficiency. There’s also an ‘identify’ button to make checking your installation a breeze. With an internal effects engine and stand-alone functionality, even users with no knowledge of DMX, or access to a lighting console, can control LED pixel effects with ease through the user-friendly local host webpage. www.enttec.com

Elation NX 4

Obsidian Control Systems offers the powerful NX 4 lighting controller with new DYLOS pixel composition engine. Equipped with professional features and using the latest in industrial components, the NX 4 is designed to handle even the largest show with ease. With a well-arranged combination of motorised and manual faders, along with an array of playback buttons, it offers 44 total playbacks in a compact yet extremely powerful package. The NX 4 includes a high-brightness, 15.6-inch, full-HD multi-touch screen with support for two external 4K touch displays. Eight assignable parametre encoders, a dedicated Intensity encoder, an assistive minitouch screen, full keypad and command section, and a dedicated grand master make for an intuitive control surface. Two independent playback sections offer instant access. The main playback with 10 motorised faders plus 10 play-pairs allow for quick page changes, while the sub playback with 12 faders and 12 button playbacks means important cues are always at your fingertips. NX 4 houses a powerful new Intel Hexa-Core processor, high-speed NVMe SSD drive and 16GB of DDR4 RAM. Fast boot times, instant operation and the ability to process 64 universes right inside the console without the need for costly external processing networks, results in unprecedented power in this form factor. www.elationlighting.com

MA Lighting grandMA3

Founded on the legacy of the previous grandMA consoles, the grandMA3 represents a radical re-think of what’s possible from a lighting control platform. The elegant new system-architecture incorporates new fixture, feature and effectshandling at its very heart. The system features ground-breaking concepts from top industry visionaries, presented within a refined user interface, and is designed to make practical tasks more intuitive. The physical design detail of the grandMA3 range is extraordinary and focussed on delivering the best possible user experience, now and into the future. The grandMA3 full-size and light models feature huge multi-touch screen surface area. All dedicated encoder and playback information is accessed directly on the letterbox screens allowing the larger screens to be fully-configured to suit user needs. grandMA3 breaks the limitations of Local Area Networks (LAN) with the ability to access Wide Area Networks (WAN). Software updates, technical support, online help and fixture downloads are all features to be supported within the WAN framework. Using the advanced MA-Net3 protocol, grandMA3 systems can output up to 250,000 parameters. There are three sizes of grandMA3 processing units to expand the console parameter count. www.malighting.com

MADRIX MADRIX 5

Create the most original lighting designs and achieve the most stunning results with the award-winning pixel mapper made in Germany. Real-time generative content, parametric visuals, and audio-reactive effects provide an unprecedented level of customisation and creative freedom for pixel-perfect and colour-accurate results. Take full control and bring projects to life with creative 2D pixel mapping and real 3D voxel mapping in a powerful tool that is extremely easy to use. Drive everything from small to large setups. It also runs in tandem with lighting consoles and more as it easily integrates into the users overall lighting system. Operate with enormous flexibility thanks to an unparalleled number of options for input and output. Users can directly connect to a wide range of LEDs and compatible first-party or third-party LED controllers. MADRIX 5 supports a huge array of industry standards that allow for ultimate LED control via Art-Net, DVI, DMX512, NDI, sACN, SPI, and many more. www.madrix.com

GDS Prodigy Series

Prodigy Series offers perfect and intuitive lighting control, suitable for a range of entertainment and commercial applications. The Prodigy Controller is a DMX and DALI hybrid with Art-Net that serves the right amount of light and delivers specific lighting actions exactly when you need them. Designed to work with virtually any type of hardware, Prodigy Controller is also available with desk, wall or rack mount options for easy installation. The Prodigy Control Modules are routed through the RJ45 terminal for easy installation and provide aux I/O for additional switches, snap-covers on the front and LED indicators. It is an excellent out-station system that includes three fader, eight button and combi modules to offer flexibility for all users at the same time. www.gds.uk.com

LSC Mantra

The Mantra Lite console and Mantra Wings combine the ease-of-use of a fader-based console, with the power of a familiar touchscreen graphical user interface. The intuitive software guides the user what to do next, ensuring a very easy learning curve for even a novice. Power users are also catered for with Shape FX, Chases and Cuelists with individual in/out fade times and powerful Fan functionality. The Mantra Lite console controls 24 individual fixtures, each with a physical fader for intensity. A large 18cm colour capacitive touchscreen provides a powerful user interface, similar in operation to modern smartphones, giving the user the feeling of familiarity and comfort. Playback is controlled by 10 dedicated playback faders, each with 10 pages of memories. The addition of a wing expands the Mantra Lite with an additional 12 fixtures faders, 10 playbacks and another DMX universe. Up to two Wings can be connected for a total of 48 fixtures, 30 playback faders and three universes of DMX, via Art-Net, sACN and XLR5. RGB, CMY, amber, white and UV parameters are all controlled by either a graphical colour picker or touch sliders, pan and tilt via a virtual touchpad and other parameters by touchscreen faders. www.lsclighting.com

Schnick-Schnack-Systems Pixel-Gate Firmware Version 3.3

The recently released Firmware Version 3.3 for the Pixel-Gate, enables all Pixel-Gates to act as an Art-Net* output. Therefore the Pixel-Gates can now be used with all devices controllable by Art-Net not just Schnick- Schnack-Systems products. Some rare minor defects have been fixed as well in this version. Pixel- Gates manufactured before 2014 (with versions before 3.x) may need a hardware update, too. *Art-Net - Designed by and copyright Artistic Licence. www. schnick.schnack.systems

Theatrixx Octo-Splitter

The Theatrixx Octo-Splitter is a rock-solid, rack-mounted DMX opto-splitter. With fully independent, buffered outputs, and individual status LEDs, the device allows for quick troubleshooting and includes a built-in termination switch on the DMX input. Every input and output is galvanically isolated up to 1,000V, which protects the unit and valuable lighting fixtures and controllers connected to it from damage. The device’s ports are fault-tolerant and self-healing, even with voltages up to 120V applied directly on the signal pins. The Theatrixx Octo-Splitter can be ordered with five-pin, three-pin or hybrid XLR connector configurations to suit all lighting rigs. A locking, professional PowerCON TRUE1 connector with loopthru and built-in power supply guarantees continuous uptime and eliminates the need for unreliable external DC power adapters. The unit is also available as three-channel DMX splitter in a Reversible Module package, for highdensity, modular rack mounted applications, as well as in stage boxes and other customised enclosures upon request. www.theatrixx.com

Wireless Solution WDMX G5

Wireless Solution (W-DMX) has spent the last 16 years focussing on delivering a technology that can be trusted by its lighting heroes, and G5 is the product of all its efforts. The new technology is capable of transmitting DMX over large distances, not only on 2.4GHz, but also on 5.2GHz and 5.8GHz. Wireless Solution is the only manufacturer in the world offering tri-band transmission, across most of its product line. Additionally, its 5th Generation is capable of multiplying the number of universes sent from a single transmitter, through a new feature called Double-Up. This new feature allows the use of the existing hardware and also doubles the number of DMX universes sent between BlackBox, WhiteBox or ProBox G5 units, for the same cost as before. www.wirelessdmx.com

WORK PRO L-S Node Series

The LS-Node Series is the new RDM/DMX streaming range from WORK PRO that supports industry standards Art-Net and sACN. They feature from one up to four DMX universes, with three different models: LS-Node1, LS-Node2 & LS-Node4, each of which adds its respective number of freely configurable DMX universes. These small LS-Node products are available in the same quarter-rack physical format as the original LS-Core, are powered via a compact USB-C connector or by PoE, which is helpful when used in installations where they may be rack-mounted with an optional LS-AR 19 rack chassis. All LS-Node products come with an integrated Ethernet switch with two ports and are multiprotocol, supporting the industry standards Art-Net and sACN. LS-Nodes are powered via a compact USB-C connector with a cable lock to prevent accidental removal. They also support PoE power. www.workpro.es

Zero 88 FLX Range

The rapid adoption of LED lighting, colour mixing and moving fixtures has also provoked increased expectations for a more sophisticated lighting show or experience. There has never been more pressure to create great show lighting quickly, simply and with affordable equipment. The Zero 88 FLX range of lighting consoles has been specifically designed to deploy a range of intuitive time saving features to meet this challenge in an understandable and financially attractive package . FLX range consoles are portable and powerful with a small footprint, free Apps are available for wireless monitoring of the lighting rig and support for a range of networking accessories. Inbuilt tools include the clever ‘RigSync’ feature, helpful step-by-step guidance, and ‘Auto Palettes’ and ‘Effects’ to assist with the prep work. Colours can be quickly and accurately selected via the award-winning multi-touch Colour & Image Picker; encoder wheels allow precise adjustments whilst built in ‘Mood Boards by LEE Filters’ save time in selecting emotive colours that work well together. www.zero88.com