Stu Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 Out of interest (basically wanting to know if I could use these instead of a Par 64 & scroller) do they output a hard edge beam (ala Profile) or soft edge, diffused beam (ala Fresnel or Par). If it's a hard edge beam, I could put some #119 or #132 on there to soften it up I suppose - but anyway yes, when it comes to Robocolour Pro 400s, is it soft or hard? (The beam I mean) Stu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 Hard, but I <think> they have a manual focus on the front, if I remember correctly. They have "gobos" to change the apature of the light output too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryson Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 I seem to vaguely recall that the manual focus allows either. We used to really like these fixtures back at college - surprisingly bright and useful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lightnix Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 Aaahhhhh Robocolour 400s... MY BABIEEEEEEES :P Yes, you can use them as replacements for PAR64 scrollers, they work really well. It's a manual focus lens, which screws into the front and is available in three different beam widths. Further beam width control is via a wheel with variously sized holes in it. They make great wall washers if you take the lens out and replace it with Hamburg Frost, but frosting with the lens in works too. If you want to elongate the beam like a PAR then Brushed Silk is a reasonable substitute. I love Robocolour 400s :) Just because they don't wiggle doesn't make them useless and their simplicity is their strength IMHO. One thing I really like about them is the way they only take up five channels of DMX, making it perfectly feasable to operate them from a small manual desk, such as a Sirius. I've done several shows with a couple of dozen R400s, rigged in three or four groups, each sharing the same base address, run off an old MA 48 way Lightcommander, occupying less than half the desk and leaving bags of space for conventionals. They work really well as HTP fixtures and are fantastically fun to busk with as such, but be sure to limit the output of each base address to 70(?)% or less to avoid accidental resets (that old Martin chestnut ;) ). General Martin tip: If you tickle the colour wheels gently, it's just possible to get three colours in the beam ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnMac Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 Bright & colourful lanterns with MSD250W discharge lamp giving approx the same intensity output as a 1kW lantern. cheaper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted December 12, 2003 Author Share Posted December 12, 2003 Aaahhhhh Robocolour 400s... MY BABIEEEEEEES ;) <snips rest of Lightnix's love spiel! :P>Thanks for your indepth post Lightnix (and too everyone else too) - I think you've just found a Robocolour 400 convert, next show I do (whenever that maybe) I'll use these instead of Par Scrollers, as I'm fed up to the back teeth with them! CheersStu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lightnix Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 <snips rest of Lightnix's love spiel! ;) >OK, I'll admit they're not without their foibles, but if properly maintained will serve you faithfully. If you PM me I can give you contact details of a couple of freelancers, who know the insides of them very well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mac500 Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 I used 4 of them last night! Very nice lights. You've got a frost filter inside it. 2 colour wheels and you can create some nice colour shades! Nice ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 Am I right in thinking you have to use them in groups of four or two with their own dedicated DMX interface, as they run 110v lamps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 Not that I've heard of - they run on IEC inputs (IIRC) and phase reversed DMX on 3pin XLRs. 200w discharge source. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 Thinking about it, I've seen both. I know the MLC stock the ones you describe, but I've seen others which have to be run through their dedicated controller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 Am I right in thinking you have to use them in groups of four or two with their own dedicated DMX interface, as they run 110v lamps?I think the very early Robocolours had to be run in groups of four, via their own controller - but that's the very old ('mobile disco' type) version. The newer Robocolor 400's are a very different beastie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryson Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Do they not do that vaguely annoying thing of running DMX on 3-pin and phase reversed. (Ie: Pins 2 + 3 reversed)? Or did I dream it? ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 ... and phase reversed DMX on 3pin XLRs...Yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryson Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Duh...how did I not spot that....? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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