Advice on intelligent fixtures

[Hass]

Hi,

 

I work in a 450 seat (Variable arts centre style layout) venue. A nearby university has started using us for their performance drama course productions and exams and have given us some money to improve our kit stock for them. I have around £10-12k to spend depending on how the other things work out price wise.

 

I am a little out of date on the mid-range intel fixtures so my question is does anyone have any suggestions?

 

The primary concern is theatre style shows, one fixture able to work multiple specials/effects/gobos etc. Im looking for some quiet moving head spots or possibly hybrids, sitting somewhere between the ADJ Vizi hybrid (around £1.5k) and the Martin Axiom Hybrid (around £7.5k). Im willing to look into moving head led's or anything similar if someone has any to recommend that may fill this role. I would be happy with some good LED's and maybe just 1 or 2 with gobo wheels to cover whats needed.

 

I have heard good things but have no personal experience working with hybrids, do they actually do the job?

There may be another round of funding next year so I am looking at buying less of better now and adding later, rather than buying more kit that only half manages the job.

 

I am also happy to buy ex demo etc. which should get a lot more for the money.

 

any advice is appreciated

 

thanks

Hass

[niclights]

Have a look at the Prolights fixtures. I've been really impressed by them. Speak to AC Lighting and arrange a demo.

[Hass]

will have a look at them,

 

thanks

[smalljoshua]

The Vizi Hybrid 16RX is not really suited to theatre. Field isn't even enough nor quiet enough. It is a good, fast and capable light for most other uses though.

 

Good all round light for me is the Robe Pointe.

 

Josh

[timsabre]

Good all round light for me is the Robe Pointe.

 

Pointe is not a great theatre gobo projector either though if that is what you want it to do - the range of beam angles available goes from "very very narrow" to "fairly narrow", and it only has a limited range of colours most of which are saturated ones.

 

For a good washlight then the Prolights Diamond range are very good, they are zoomable from 6-60 degrees with a nice flat field, I would use them in place of fresnels in a multi purpose venue.

[Ynot]

Good all round light for me is the Robe Pointe.

Sorry, but o it's NOT a good all-rounder for THEATRE work.

I'd agree that it's a great lantern for doing what it was designed for, which is creating nice bright NARROW beams, but it's not suitable as a general work-horse for theatre.

 

As a rule, for the OP, you're of course going to need one of two options (or both if budget permits).

A decent quality wash light, which COULD be something LED these days, such as the Mac Aura or if you want a Robe, the Spider is a pretty powerful option (though that does do a little more as an eye-candy type lantern).

Or of course profiles with gobos/zoom/other bells & whistles.

 

My own experience is limited these days to what we've hired in for shows, and my personal weapon of choice on the profile front at the moment would be the Mac Quantum, but that's mainly because it fits the budget and performance from my regular supplier.

 

That said, there is certainly more kit out there these days, so if you're looking to buy, I'd certainly look at the mid-range stuff from Chauvet or Prolight before necessarily stuumping for the bigger players. Because that 10/12k isn't going to go far with martin/Robe kit etc.

 

 

 

 

 

[Hass]

thanks all,

 

ye pointe is a bit specialist for what I need. mac aura is a nice idea, haven't used them in years. haven't had much experience with the quantums but am very familiar with vipers and other mac kit, will have a look at them.

 

currently best options iv'e seen for covering multiple jobs is the prolights spots.

[ninjadingle]

I've had excellent results using the Chauvet R1 and R2 washes. If you can live without barndoors, these are worth considering IMO.

[Hass]

Will check them out too,

 

cheers

[litemog]

The Chauvet Rogue washes are pretty decent but a little on the noisy side. For a wash only LED I'd also suggest the MAC Aura XB, which has a good zoom range, excellent colour mixing and has the advantage of being very small and light. Have a look also at the Robe DLS4 profile. Not technically a hybrid but it does great gobo work and also will focus soft for washes. I've got a couple and their flexibility is amazing. I've had them doing a full front curtain gobo breakup wash in one scene and then creating an 8inch square of light on the back wall of the stage in the next. There is also a non shuttering version available and also a 7 colour version which gives superior colour mixing similar to the ETC Lustre units, however these are much bulkier and pricier.

[andyparcans]

we use a lot of Elation fixtures both led and platinum lamps, had a demo of the new led DaVinci moving head very bright and has CMY col mix.

always found them to be well built and robust hire fixtures.

worth a look?

 

PM for more info

 

cheers