LightSoundJournal.com: ETC launched two new theatrical fixtures as part of a two-day-long international online event. The Source Four LED Series 3 and Desire Fresnel are the perfect pairing for any theatre looking to successfully launch themselves into the modern day with incredible brightness, impressive color mixing, and wireless DMX/RDM features.
4 comments:
I have not read many articles related to the lighting fixtures or instruments for a while, and I was surprised by how much I could understand what the article was talking about compared to a few weeks before. I have witnessed (through the screen) how the different ways of mixing the colors can end up in very different outputs, and I think these kind of high-quality ones could be more widespread so that more theaters could afford them. Same with then wireless RDMs as well; wirings behind the set could be so much more simple if all the lightings could be remote even though it would cost tremendous amount of investments. I wonder if in the future, there could be a lighting console that cannot only adjust its color or intensity but also the shape or the range of lights with a remote console so that people would not have to change the settings all the time.
It’s super interesting to me how we have this obsession as a society with doing away with cables and real buttons. I guess DMX technology is advanced enough that it’s not much of a problem, and there’s unlikely to be issues with radio interference or devices conking out. My gut says that if it can be a cable, it should be a cable for simplicity's sake, but on the contrary, every cable you don’t have to run saves at least minutes of time, multiplied by every intelligent fixture. In addition to saving time on one install, a touring shoe saves that much time every time they set up and tear down. It’s probably worthwhile, but I can tell you I personally plugged ethernet in my printer and TV and was worried that I wouldn’t be able to do the same for my laptop. I’ve never had any issues, but the hardwiring makes me feel better.
I always find it interesting to learn about the latest advances in lighting technology. I am sure the new Lustr 3 with its X8 array including a deep red diode will be an incredible new tool to add to any inventory, but I do have a few thoughts on it. I feel like the new UI kind of seems busy and unnecessary. Even if just the diodes in the knobs were removed it would be better. Also, this has nothing to do with the fixture itself, but I just think it looks bad. That’s just me being picky and opinionated, I have no doubt that it is an extremely powerful new tool and will function incredibly. I am also surprised about the new XDLT lens. I find it so interesting that the lenses can be improved upon – when it comes down to it, they are all almost the same thing. Glass lenses in metal housing. Yet somehow, some changes were made to improve the quality of the lens, while still performing the same function. Finally, the new Desire Fresnel. I think it’s great that fresnels have been introduced into the LED world. I was at first confused how it would function, primarily the zoom, but the video cleared that up. The one question I am left with is how the output from the diodes is mixed in such a small body. The frosted lens will mix it, but I have to wonder is there is any other internal diffusion in the fixture.
I'm impressed by how much lighting technology is advancing. I do agree with Owen though that if it can be a cable, it should be a cable. Maybe wireless DMX will work great but it just feels a little wrong, and not reliable. I would like to read a more in depth article on these fixtures, but they made them sound very intriguing here. The color opportunities of the Source4 LED 3 sounds promising, and I hope they've been able to improve their color matching from the console to the stage. I love the idea of LED fresnels too, but I worry that they will be too harsh compared to the classic wash of conventional fresnels. Nonetheless, I am always an LED fan because I like bright and bold colors, so these fixtures are exciting.
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