LEDs replacing gobos

[Matt Cowles]

So what you're saying is that you believe that R & D into higher and higher power LED will be stalled because there will be a surge towards plasma instead?

 

That is exactly what I'm saying, because I know its the truth

[musht]

Plasma lamps have the energy advantages of LED and the lifespan but with much better colour rendering and much better output.

 

Plasma has been around the block before, those old enough or with long memories will remember the sulfur lamp.

 

Better colour rendering, er, with a big hump in green , kind of.

 

Better output, not really, more easily focussed light output but on a lumens per watt ratio , not as good as LED.

 

Lifespan, sure the plasma pill itself is rated to something extraordinary, not so sure about the exciter needed to illuminate it.

[Just Some Bloke]

I ask forgiveness for calling the split thread 'LEDs replacing gobos'. I am sure we are all quite happy to broaden the discussion as Matt suggests.

[Joe Bleasdale]

I ask forgiveness for calling the split thread 'LEDs replacing gobos'. I am sure we are all quite happy to broaden the discussion as Matt suggests.

 

Thanks Eric. It is all my fault however, considering I brought it up! :P

 

Best,

[Colin]

The counter arguement to Plasmas not LEDs is that LED technology is going to be developed on mass for a consumer market, the power and itensity of the plasma lampis not exactly going to be useful here in the slightest so you are left with a specialist technology which while yes it will be developed (probaly in the same way discharge sources have) we aren't going to see the rapid development that we have with LED. Also with the signifcantly higher cost of plasma you aren't going to see the low-end DJ rubbish like we have with LED which is a driving force for the high-end players to be that much better, have better colours and more features etc.

 

LED profile I am sure some will exist, possibly sooner than expected.

 

Being useful outside the conference market.... I doubt it

[James Remo]

As for the last comment of being useful outside the conference market, it's a comment I've heard before regarding the use of LED fixtures, specifically wash units. Now Impressions and BB4's are being used on operas. I remember hearing it in a slightly different form regarding movers and rock & roll, now how many west end musicals don't have a mover in the rig. As the technology improves to a point of finesse, more demanding disciplines will pick up on the technology. If it is clumsy or gimmicky then it will be given a wide berth, but as it ripens to a useful state it will spread, unless it is buried by a better or more accessible technology (as cd did for minidisc, for example) Whether or not plasma does this to LED, only time will tell. You would be a fool to not look at other possible avenues, as there may be a light source that blows away tungsten, LED and plasma just around the corner.