Robe’s waterproof iSpiiders wash beam LED moving lights provided a perfect solution for the recent production of “Stuttgart. Ein Traum” (Stuttgart. A Dream) a lively, funny and innovative new work that is a collage of street, puppet, physical and ensemble theatre performance referencing the city’s history and culture, created in a collaboration between Stuttgart Staatsgalerie, the Schauspielbühnen Theatre.
The show was presented in the open air over 10 days in the Stuttgart Staatsgalerie’s impressive Rotunda, an outdoor amphitheatre and one of the most striking architectural features of this postmodern masterpiece building designed by James Stirling in the 1970s. Lighting and audio rental company Mad Music supplied the lighting and sound for the production with company owner Mathias Bremgärtner and project manager Peter Wormstädt working in close conjunction with the Schauspiel’s technical director, Stefan Hauschke.
The iSpiiders were part of a purchase by Mad Music initially for this show, and now for general rental stock. With the live performance and event industry cautiously returning to work after a lengthy pandemic-enforced shutdown, Mathias and Peter felt confident about making this investment in iSpiiders due to the general increase in outdoor events … prompted by the Covid situation.
Initially this is through the rest of summer and the early autumn months, but it’s a trend they think could easily extend further during these Covid times, to feed the general surge in demand for performance events in safer external environments.
Funded by a special programme “Art in Spite of the Distance” set up by the Baden-Württemburg Ministry of Art & Science, once the venue was chosen and the piece – directed by Klaus Hemmerle – involving six ensemble actors / singers and a multi-instrumentalist started to evolve, Peter and Stefan assessed the best lighting treatments.
They decided that for the main performance lighting, the entire amphitheatre should be washed with good quality lumens that could also be adjusted subtly as the natural light faded into darkness. Some of the architectural details, sculptures and art pieces around the Rotunda could then be detailed with smaller wireless LED fixtures.
Robe iSpiider
Already using Robe’s LEDWash 600 extensively, the newly launched IP65 rated iSpiider immediately came to mind. They wanted an LED solution, both to be greener and because power was limited, and the idea was to leave the lights rigged in place throughout the period. For aesthetics, covering lights with domes was out, so water-resilience became an essential tick-box. Added to that, on show days the lighting and sound rig needed to be tech’d by one person, so considerations like the light weight and reasonable size – handleable by one person – became further factors in the choice in lights.
Finally, to minimise cabling, they took advantage of the iSpiider’s inbuilt Lumen Radio wireless DMX transmitter to run on a wireless data network. Together with the battery powered wireless LED lights and an MA Dot2 for control, it was a very viable and practical lighting rig. Eight iSpiiders in total were used on “Stuttgart. Ein Traum”, out of the 16 units purchased by Mad Music from Robe Germany.
Four fixtures were positioned on two towers either side of the entrance / exit between the amphitheatre and the main Staatsgalerie building, and another four, also on two towers, were on the first-floor balcony level pointing through two of the open ‘windows’ integrated into the Rotunda’s curved wall design. “Eight iSpiiders provided a really nice ambient wash across the area. Lighting a show like this it is not about how much kit you have but how thoughtfully and resourcefully you use it!” commented Peter, with nods of agreement from Stefan.
Three days of rehearsals on site followed a month by the cast in conventional rehearsal facilities, while the lighting and sound cues were all programmed into the consoles during one evening session. Mad Music has other Robe fixtures in rental stock including BMFLs and Spikies plus the LEDWash 600s, the first ones purchased 10 years ago and still working well! As these have worked so constantly, they were again reassured that the robust and water-resistant iSpiider would be a solid investment. Mathias thinks IP-rated fixtures like iSpiiders are an “ultimately useful” type of luminaire. These can also be used to illuminate building facades and other areas, so they will potentially lead to further work as “outside events and activities are definitely here to stay for the immediate future!”
He remembers back to the first Robe purchases and is delighted to have seen the brand grow and become established as an industry leader in that relatively short time, building a reputation for “quality engineered” products.
Mathias started Mad Music 33 years ago when still at school. Not yet old enough to have a driver’s licence, Peter came onboard to take care of the transport … and the two have worked together ever since. Stefan Hauschke also worked for Mad Music before joining the Schauspiel, so it’s a tight-knit community! The company’s regular work as a sound and lighting supplier spans TV, theatre, music sectors plus some film lighting and – pre Covid – many events, and they also supply and service several fixed installations.
For more info about Robe, you can visit www.robe.cz
Justin Kitchenman of Align Design Group is using some favorite Elation lights on five-time Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan’s “Proud To Be Right Here Tour” scheduled through October 16 with 35+ shows. The country music superstar is touring in support of his Born Here Live Here Die Here album, which includes his recent smash single “Waves.”
The song is enjoying its second week at the top of the country charts and brings Luke’s career #1 tally to 27. “Waves” is also the fifth consecutive #1 single off the project. In addition to the tour, fans can also see Luke’s original five-part docuseries Luke Bryan: My Dirt Road Diary, on IMDb TV, Amazon’s premium free streaming service out now.
Resurrected design Kitchenman had just gotten the Cole Swindell “Down To Earth” tour design out the door when Covid hit in 2020, then spent a year working on livestreams and other smaller projects. When he got the call this past April that longtime client Luke Bryan was planning a 2021 tour, he was understandably ecstatic.
The LD, who has been designing for Bryan for a decade, had a design in place from last summer’s cancelled tour, a show he thought he’d never see realized. When the decision was made to pick up from where they left off in 2020, however, the design was back on the table. “I had come to terms last summer that that design was dead,” he said, “so I was thrilled when it was resurrected for this year’s tour.”
Out the door quickly According to Kitchenman, the tour came together extremely quickly with a short two weeks between final tour approval and rehearsals in Nashville in June. “That’s when the ACL 360i fixtures came into play,” he stated.
“We know what we can do with them and know they are reliable. They were also available so we could get out quickly and do shows.” The “Proud To Be Right Here” tour kicked off July 8th in Syracuse, New York, and plays mostly outdoor amphitheaters. “It was very much a team effort to pull it off in time,” Kitchenman said.
Lighting pods The design features automated lighting pods full of Elation ACL 360i fixtures, the designer’s sixth year using the compact single-beam RGBW moving effects. The pods fill the space in concentrated beams of color and can be maneuvered to create a wide variety of looks. “Every year we break them out and they’re reliable. They just look awesome when we use so many of them.” Kitchenman, who is out with the tour as lighting director and also serves as production designer, uses 72 ACL 360i’s along with 8 DTW Blinder 700 IP 4-lites and 14 DTW Blinder 350 IP 2-lites.
“I’ve come to value the ACL 360i’s small size. You can stick them anywhere in the rig for an old school ACL look to big pods of light,” the designer said, and adds that they are also low power and don’t take up much data. Overhead, four pod trusses house 12 units each with additional units scattered throughout the floor.
The pods are used in all sorts of configurations, for example lighting only certain fixtures or running a variety of chases. The pods also complement well a large backdrop LED wall. Nashville-based production provider Elite Multimedia Productions has worked with Luke Bryan from the start of his career and is supplying the lighting and LED video technology for the run.
DTW Blinders Elation blinders have been a staple of Kitchenman’s Luke Bryan designs for years. This year he uses 8 DTW Blinder 700 IP and 14 DTW Blinder 350 IP – 4x and 2x 175W warm white/amber COB LEDs respectively – for audience lighting. Additional blinders are located throughout the rig, which he often uses as a complementary twinkle effect. “The DTW’s have the amber chip in them which gives a more natural look, closer to a tungsten lamp,” he stated. “The IP65 protection is also key as we do a lot of shows where they are exposed to the weather on the downstage truss.”
Gratitude The “Proud To Be Right Here” tour is selling well and Kitchenman says he is extremely grateful for every week they are able to be out on the road. “We’re on the forefront in this new climate, proving that it can be done and can be done faithfully. The most important thing is to do shows safely and responsibly so we use an abundance of caution and take people’s wellbeing very seriously.”
That gratitude extends to the rest of the crew as well. He comments that once they got into the groove, it felt like they had never taken a break. “Everyone was excited to jump back in and we got everybody’s best effort and full devotion. No one was burned out; there’s been no gig fatigue. It’s worked out really well. I’m proud of this production and we’ve had great feedback from audiences, and Luke and his team as well.”
For more info about Elation and their products line, you can visit : www.elationlighting.com
Since their market launch in 2020, the coaxial full-range loudspeakers in the LD Systems ICOA Series have become firmly established in the PA portfolios of musicians, bands and DJs. Now, with the addition of DSP presets for the passive ICOA 12” and 15” versions for the DSP 44/45 K power amplifiers from LD Systems, these PA all-rounders can be used even more flexibly.
With its combination of coaxial design, rotatable, BEM-optimised CD horn – for optional use as a PA loudspeaker or floor monitor – as well as various other functions, the ICOA Series is a true all-rounder for live applications. For permanently installed applications, the passive ICOA models are also available in white. They can be mounted on walls vertically or horizontally using a specially developed wall bracket featuring the Easy-Click connection system and clean cable routing.
The passive PA coaxial speakers in the ICOA Series are available in two versions: the ICOA 12 and ICOA 15, featuring 12” and 15” woofers respectively. Thanks to their excellent bass response, the ICOA full-range speakers are not just suitable for musicians and bands, but also for dance schools or mobile DJs who want to do without a heavy, unwieldy subwoofer.
The ICOA presets for the LD Systems DSP 44 K and DSP 45 K power amplifiers are now available for download. The downloads are available on the product page of each respective ICOA model at ld-systems.com/icoa
In addition to these presets, which are specially adapted to the LD Systems DSP Series, a PDF with all the relevant technical data for use with DSP power amplifiers from other manufacturers can also be found here.
Robert Juliat set out to find the ultimate solution that would breathe new life into the world’s countless 600SX profiles, offering even better light quality. With the introduction of the Sully module last year, and the Tibo HE this year, they just might have succeeded. Armed with our instrumentation, we went to put the Sully 654SX through our rigorous tests on the manufacturer’s home turf in Picardy.
About Sully
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Hosted by Ludwig Lepage, product manager, we got to explore the Sully range in every detail. General Manager François Juliat and Communications Manager Séverine Zucchiatti were also happy to answer the many questions we had.
After a nice coffee break with our hosts in their museum lounge – where every corner is decorated with a piece of history – we continue to reminisce and share anecdotes as we head towards the test room. We had been used to seeing each other at major national and international trade shows, but the Covid crisis has interfered with the solid relationships we have built with manufacturers, distributors and all the service companies, who have been hit so hard in recent months.
With pleasure, we meet again as if nothing had happened. Apart from the masks and the required distancing, we are about to spend an excellent day in Fresnoy-en-Thelle, in the 7,000 m2 Robert Juliat factory.
On the left is a Sully 654SX profile, identifiable by its rear base, where the trapdoor to the lamp housing would be on a 614SX…
Ludwig gives us a complete overview of Sully, which is neither really a profile, nor a specific source, but a complete range divided into two main areas: On one hand, a complete line of models, the Sully 650SX profiles, the Sully 1156 followspot, and the Sully 305LF and 305LPB Fresnel and PC fixtures.
On the other hand, retro-fit modules allow you to convert, or even resurrect, a certain number of more or less old luminaires, tungsten or others, converting them into LED fixtures, with lower consumption, improved luminous flux and modernized controls.
… and on the right the Sully module, here in its ‘followspot’ version with a potentiometer, but that we will use in a 614SX body for the sake of convenience. 😉
The Sully T/650SX module is compatible with 600SX, Aledin (630SX), Figaro, Quincy or Pierrot profiles, while the T/1650SX is for converting the Criquet, Buxie and Foxie followspots. However, apart from the manual potentiometer of the T/1650SX, which is almost mandatory for a followspot, the two modules are absolutely identical. It should also be noted that the LED source and its electronic control section are used together in the new Tibo HE range of lightweight profiles.
The modules are available in two color temperatures: warm white, the equivalent of a 3000 K halogen, or cool white at 5700 K, which is like a halogen profile with a Lee Filters 201 gelatin. They are balanced tones, suitable for a wide range of situations.
The maximum power consumption of a module is 135 W, it is an impressive example of asceticism. 22 Sully units can run on a 3 kW line, without any problems with harmonics or inrush current. The power supply management of the LEDs is done by switching at 3200 Hz or 17000 Hz, but also via direct current. There is an undeniable advantage in being able to choose between the smoothest possible dimming, especially at low levels, using 3200 Hz, or avoiding flickering in video capture by switching to 17,000 Hz or even to DC. In this case, on the other hand, the transitions will be more uneven. The heat produced is drastically reduced. One could almost take advantage of this to create gobos on plastic prints, but for very short applications or tests, as the power of the LED source can still deform them.
Seamless continuity
The Sully 651SX, 653SX and 654SX, which are delivered with their LED source installed, have the same characteristics as the 611, 613 and 614SX, and for good reason: their mechanics are absolutely identical! We can find, almost blindfolded, the yoke lock with its unlocking handle and indexed azimuth scale on the yoke axis; but also the zoom and focus adjustments with the RJ labelled locking knobs and graduated indexes. For those who weren’t aware, the last digit of the Juliat model number indicates the zoom range. That is 11-26° for the 651SX (long throw), 28-54° for the 653SX (short throw) and 16-35° for the 654SX (standard).
Profile here also indicates a set of framing shutters (up to eight for Robert Juliat) and the blue ring for locking them, independent ±45° rotation of the whole set with its rear lock, and two slots for an iris or gobo before and after the shutters (in order for them to be either independent of, or linked to, the rotation of the front of the fixture).
There are, of course, several lugs for safety cables, a straight or angled yoke for suspended or pole-mounted installation using a single mount, a filter or accessory holder at the very front, and a quick-opening trapdoor hatch (with the famous ‘ski boot’ type rapid releases). When the trapdoor is opened, it reveals the internal filter holder with its metal tab retainer.
The metal frame positioned in front of the rear lens and the famous internal filter holder, so familiar!
This slot, which is by no means new, allows the insertion of a frosted glass filter to maintain a true frost over the whole focal range, or it can be used for special correctors – UV, minus-green, CTB – while leaving the front filter holder free for other gels. The rest of the fixture hasn’t changed and, of course, all the old accessories are compatible.
The double condenser lenses for the Sully LED engine are available as an option, or as spare parts.
Just in front of the source, aspherical lenses – a double condenser lens – improve the optical performance in the periphery of the image. This is indicated by the letters “SX” in the model names of the brand.
In the traditional 1000 W range, the heat was already an issue. If you wanted to switch to a 1200 W lamp, it was recommended that you change the lenses for additional thermal resistance. With Sully, instead, the LED source reduces the heat emissions and it is possible to use a new special double condenser for LEDs, with a specific coating that offers better optical properties.
With the original lenses, the luminous intensity is already identical to that of a 1000 W halogen, but with a new fleet of fixtures, it is possible to obtain 10 to 15% more flux, which is the equivalent of a 1200 W lamp. Be careful though, these lenses would not appreciate the thermal output of a halogen lamp! Maintenance is also simplified. Cleaning the condenser lenses and front lenses is the only effort required, as there is no lamp to change. The Sully module does not require any maintenance and the LED source should not be touched.
Through the Trapdoor
To transform a 614SX profile into an LED profile, you will need a Sully module, a flat-head screwdriver, your two hands and about 30 seconds. It’s even easier than changing an incandescent lamp. Everything is done through the trapdoor of the lamp housing, which must be removed.
To make it easier, it is recommended that you perform the change while the fixture is resting on its nose. The conventional lamp is removed from the luminaire, leaving only the double condenser.
We start with the rear ¼-turn screw, then the two screws in front of the lamp, which we will have to unscrew completely while tilting the lamp holder. All that remains is to remove the ground cable and then you can separate the old trapdoor from the fixture, and store it in your shop.
If a lighting designer were to request it, it is very easy to switch back to tungsten using the old lamp hatches, the process being infinitely reversible. (This was already the case with the old HMI range).
You should be aware that, although the conversion is possible with the older 614S profiles, which have a single condenser lens and a smaller diameter, the benefit is almost non-existent, as the optical alignment isn’t good, and the beam deteriorates considerably.
If you would like to replace the famous double condenser, now is your chance. It is held in place simply with two wing bolts. Now you have to insert the Sully module, paying attention to the larger heat sink, then reconnect the ground wire to one of the two connectors and screw it back together. The width of the Sully module (less than 8 cm), doesn’t disturb the balance, nor the movement of the yoke, and adds only 600 grams to a 614, the unit alone weighing less than 1.2 kg.
Since a video is worth ten thousand words, here is the method in moving pictures For a stock of 50 profiles, the whole process would certainly take less than an hour.
The width of the Sully module (less than 8 cm), doesn’t disturb the balance, nor the movement of the yoke, and it adds only 600 grams to a 614, the unit alone weighing less than 1.2 kg.
A heat pipe cooling unit is integrated into the Sully module to dissipate the heat using the principle of thermal transfer through the circulation of fluid.
Underneath the vanes of the heat sink, a high-speed, virtually silent ventilation system is visible in white. The rubber edging prevents light leaks.
A fan on the bottom further assists in cooling the unit, as does the heat exchanger supporting the 115 W Osram LED board. The bottom part includes a single PCI** card for electronic management and control of the fixture, plus the power supply, which is equipped with another fan.
** :Peripheral Component Interconnect: a standard local bus for connecting computer expansion cards.
The Sully module is delivered in a single piece and cannot be disassembled, except for specialized after-sales service, because the alignment of the LEDs and their thermal connections must be carefully calibrated.
On the serial number plate, the exact model of Sully (indicating the version with or without potentiometer and the color temperature), and the various important characteristics are indicated, as well as the MAC address and the default IP on the white adhesive label.
Once the source is installed in the body of the fixture, all that remains is to connect it to the mains power supply via the PowerCON True1 connector – there is a link output in addition to the input. Then you can test it using the potentiometer on the right side.
We already note the first difference, and it’s a major one: the temperature at the source goes from 185°C for the lamp version to 43°C for the LED version, while the operating noise remains inaudible – between 23 and 25 dB. What convenience!
The measurements with instruments and eyes
We decided to compare a new 614SX halogen profile and a Sully 654SX in warm white.
The first test, the derating, shows a very low attenuation in the first 6 minutes: just 5%.
The second test is a 0 to 100% intensity variation. The dimmer curve is perfectly straight, with very slight ripples at very low levels.
The dimming curve from 0 to 10%.
The dimming curve from 0 to 100%.
In terms of projection, we are struck by the uniformity of the Sully, and by its power. There is no real difference in color temperature, but the beam seems denser, a little brighter.
On the left is the 614SX, while on the right is the Sully. We can distinguish the shape of the filament of the lamp in the field projected by the halogen source.
The border around the projection of the Sully is sharper, without the very slight halo around that of the 614. The differences are minimal, but the beam is more beautiful from this LED version; it’s sharper, very pleasing.
With the insertion of shutters or a gobo, the improvement is more comprehensive. With its improved heat dissipation and improved projection, the sharpness is consistent. And there’s no need for gloves when taking out the gobo!
On the 614SX the steel gobo gets deformed by the heat, and sharpness is very complicated to obtain. The sharpness of the Sully is better. In both cases, we find this blue/orange diffraction around the edges.
There is almost no difference with the shutters, which is one of Robert Juliat’s strong points. If you want to nitpick a little, you can see a little more diffraction with the Sully.
Looking at the measurements, the verdict is even more compelling. The 614SX offers a flux of 5,940 lumens at 3115 K, while the Sully delivers 6,430 lumens at 3096 K, with better uniformity and a more linear attenuation. Measurements of tight and wide beams also show excellent flux conservation, a remarkable result, the result of the optical work of the new condensers and the ancestral know-how of Robert Juliat.
Photometric measurements of Sully 654SX in Warm White
Tightest sharp-focus beam
20° beam
Widest sharp-focus beam
Photometric measurements of the 614SX halogen, 20° beam
The various measurements from a tight to a wide beam show the amazing performance of the Sully. It should be noted that there are some differences between our measurements and those of the manufacturer, the latter taking into account the distance between the target and the LED source, while our measurements stop at the nose of the fixtures.
Now we use color reference charts, called the Color Checker. This allows us to accurately measure the chromatic rendering.
The power of the Sully, combined with its more defined spectral distribution in blues and pastels, brings out the reference colors better.
Taking things a step further, we will compare some more advanced colorimetric indices. The CRI, the Color Reference Index, has been part of the sales pitches of manufacturers for many years now. To consider the CIE CRI as the pinnacle of color reproduction would be to forget that this method dates back to 1964 and is based on the assessment of eight colors, pastels, numbered R1 to R8. Some manufacturers have decided to be a little more thorough, by including the red (R9) or even all 15 possible color samples, but without any real consistency.
The CRI-R8 as rendered by the Sully Warm White module.
The measurements in TM30. While we can consider that a perfect 614SX would have a CRI and an Rf of 100, with a zero saturation at 100 and a Delta UV of 0, the Sully WW is very close with an Rf of 93, an Rg of 99 and almost no deviation.
To define a source of very good quality, it would be necessary to obtain an index between 95 and 100, close to the halogen, almost perfect. In these conditions, the Sully oscillates between 95 and 97, depending on the model; an impressive result, but which does not take into account the dense colors.
Robert Juliat however decided to go further in its measurements by including the TM30 of 2018, which compares 99 hues and gives an Rf index (from 0 to 100) of fidelity, a gamut Rg of saturation (from 0 to 140), a circular chromaticity plot and a UV Delta measurement, which indicates, put simply, the difference between the ‘white’ of the measured source and the theoretical one defined by the Planck curve.
To adapt to cameras, rather than the eye, the TLCi, Television Lighting Consistency Index (2012) is based on a particular Color Checker, which is specifically tailored to electronic photo sensors.
More complex, the TLCi measurement index is like the CRI for cameras.
Finally, for scientists, nothing beats the wavelength spectrum, which perfectly details each color frequency.
The spectral distribution of the Sully, as compared to different standard sources.
This diagram shows us a small dip in the yellow/green, and a bump in the blue, which creates that pinkish feel, almost like a 1/8 or 1/16 minus-green. This is theoretically a slight flaw but, on the stage, it improves the skin tone of the performers.
To better observe this difference, we illuminate a reference image. We can easily see the difference in color on the arms, the hair and the sunlight, which are denser and warmer with the Sully.
We finish our tests with a 614 and a CTB filter on one side, and a Sully equipped with a cool white LED on the other. In both cases, as expected, we lose a few points of CRI and TM30, and a bit more in TLCi. The bluish and slightly green part of the correction is not necessarily gentle with the warm colors. However, the difference in flux and quality is impressive. The luminous flux of the 614 falls below 2,000 lumens, while the Sully CW soars to 7,500 lumens. The difference on the reference image is undeniable.
Photometric measurements of the Sully 654SX in Cool White
Photometric measurements of the 614SX with a halogen lamp and a LeeFilter 201 gel
The 614 and its Lee 201 gelatin lighting the top of the image doesn’t stand a chance against the Sully, which is illuminating the bottom of it.
It must be clearly stated that Robert Juliat’s new LED profiles are now of a higher quality than their halogen counterparts: more powerful and sharper, while consuming less energy and producing less heat.
Dialoguing with Sully
No menu, no screen, no buttons – that’s what will surprise more than one technician the first time he comes across the Sully! Above all, the Sully can be controlled by DMX (RDM), ArtNet or sACN, with modes ranging from 1 to 6 parameters, and all of this has to be configured carefully.
The DMX and RJ45 connectors have a three-color status LED. Simply put, red indicates a fault or absence of signal, green indicates that the cable is connected but without data, blue indicates good signal and data reception.
Of course, there are three colored lights above the connectors to detect the power supply at startup, then the presence of data and the activation of the RDM according to color codes detailed in the manual, but nothing more. Oh yes, there is a discreet reset button to reset the Sully module to its factory settings.
To understand this choice, you have to remember that Robert Juliat focused on human-machine interfaces, called HMI, to design and develop simple yet complete control systems. After their usual displays with buttons, which are not always easy to access once the fixtures are on poles or suspended, and then having experimented with NFC* chips before giving up due to the lack of full support from Apple on iPhones, the decision was made to focus on configuration and monitoring via RDM and web interface.
*NFC : Near-Field Communication is a short-range wireless communication technology (a few centimeters) that allows the exchange of information between a device and a smartphone.
The decision was made to stop using standard menus, which was reinforced by their dialogue with the technicians of theaters and TV studios, who rarely intervene on the settings during their operations, and who were sometimes forced to perform acrobatics in high places. Thus the configuration of the fixtures is now carried out according to one of two methods. Either using an RDM** compatible tester, software or console via the DMX cables, or by connecting a computer via RJ45 to access a web page, as easily as with a website on the Internet.
** : Remote Device Manager, or RDM, is an expansion of the DMX512 protocol that allows bi-directional communication between RDM-compatible fixtures connected to a standard DMX line. This allows for the detection, configuration and monitoring of remote fixtures.
Of course, we can already hear some purists grumbling in their corners, bemoaning the lack of a display and menu, or highlighting the lack of training of some of their technicians. We will pass on their complaints to Robert Juliat!
The RDM route
The DMXCat box can be connected via DMX, without any distance limit if the basic rules are respected: that is, a standard DMX cable, splitter, node and RDM-compatible devices.
As Robert Juliat has partnered with City Theatrical and their DMXCat tester, this provides extensive access to the Sully’s features. The research done on custom PID (Parameter Identification) and RDM has allowed them to offer a straightforward and efficient system. But in absolute terms, any RDM source will be able to configure the fundamental functions of the Sully (like a GrandMA3, for example).
With the RDM tester connected, and then connected via Bluetooth to your smartphone, the fixture or fixtures will appear in a list. The “light bulb” icon allows you to turn them on remotely to identify them, and the “RDM” arrow icon allows you to enter the nine settings menus:
Left: Home screen – Middle: Basic addressing and mode settings – Right: Information and factory reset.
Temperature, ventilation and other sensor levels – Middle: Operating hours – Right: Advanced control and diagnostic self-tests (Custom PiD)
Left: The selection of dimming configuration options (curve, response, LED modulation frequency and intensity threshold at 16 bits) – Middle: Network settings – Right: Information feedback from the device.
The Web route
Another possibility is to connect the Sully via the RJ45 port, as would be the case in a fixed network installation. Be aware, however, that the module doesn’t have an integrated switch, so it will probably be necessary to use a star topology, but that’s another story. As in the vast majority of cases, the fixtures will be controlled using Art-Net or sACN, Robert Juliat has logically preconfigured each Sully in class A, with a unique and independent address, such as 2.XXX.XXX.XXX/8.
you bring a computer into the network, obviously within the same address range, you can simply type in the address of the fixture in your Internet browser. This provides access to a configuration web page. The four pages are a little different from those of the RDM tester, but allow for complete configuration. Only access to the monitoring sensors are currently unavailable. Each time you modify a parameter, you just have to click on the ‘Submit Parameters’ button to activate your changes.
The home page, with the status of the unit: identification, ventilation, drivers, temperature, power supply, serial number, software version number, update, factory default, hard reset and others. Sully models with an integrated potentiometer are recognized as “FollowSpot”.
DataMode allows access to DMX address, fixture personality, protocol selection and all network settings. The Expert menu is reserved for the service department for calibration and replacement of parts.
The Setup page with the fixture configurations: indicator light activation, DMX hold, local or remote control of the potentiometer, dimming curve, anti-flicker control and RDM command lock.
Just below is the old version of WebPage. To update the firmware of the module, you just have to download the update at this address: robertjuliat.com/profilespots/SULLY_650SX Then choose ‘Update Firmware’ in the menu and select the file in your download folder. Currently the latest update is version 2.2.
There are a lot of neat little tricks in these menus:
– For example, a QR code will allow you to download the manual to your phone. – When you set the DMX address, each channel of the different modes will also display its address. – The network section not only allows the use of a gateway or DHCP, but also a fixed IP with access to all possible subnet masks. In case of a hardware reset, the IP address returns to the one indicated on the serial number plate of the device. – Note that for ArtNet use, a single unique number replaces the Net, Sub-Net and Universe numbers. Very convenient, however, according to Artistic License recommendations, only universes from 1 to 32,000 are allowed, not the ‘0’. – The threshold allows you to set an intensity limit, in order to equalize or calibrate a set of fixtures. The module recalculates the dimmer range in relation to this threshold to maintain linearity in use.
Keeping control
The models with a manual potentiometer can be used in DMX, Art-Net or sACN. The potentiometer can be deactivated if necessary, and its direction of rotation can be reversed in the settings for followspot applications. This local control in HTP is regulated by the console using a dedicated master channel. The console operator can thus control the maximum intensity level instead of the followspot operator, and can also coordinate the blackouts. The DMX library has six modes, from the simplest to the most complicated. While Robert Juliat’s chart is quite clear, you may find some surprises in the libraries provided by Caralon for the major consoles on the market. The advanced modes have two dimmer channels, at 8 or 16 bits, one for the general level and the other to limit the local potentiometer.
The strobe is divided into two parameters: duration and speed. The next channel is different, as it sets the response time, or rather the ‘inertia’ of the ‘lamp’ when it is switched off. The control channel provides several options, such as enabling or disabling the RDM (unless this is otherwise locked in the web interface). Finally, for architectural or museum installations, it is possible to set a precise level for the fixture in the Stand Alone parameter in the menu, so that the fixture always automatically turns on at this level each time it is switched on.
In conclusion
Robert Juliat continues to carry the family torch with both strength and humility. This almost unparalleled combination of traditional craftsmanship and cutting-edge industrial technology commands respect, as they have cleverly transformed a piece as traditional as the theater profile into a concentrated bundle of innovations. The Sully models are designed, developed and manufactured in the Oise region by Robert Juliat.
Singer/songwriter Hardy is a rising star on the country music circuit and with that newfound fame comes an opportunity to up his on-stage game in order to appeal to an even wider audience. Out in support of his highly praised debut album ‘A Rock,’ which came out last fall and includes the No. 1 hit single “One Beer,” Hardy is touring with an upgraded lighting rig of Elation Dartz 360, Artiste Picasso and other lighting fixtures. Lighting design is by Zac Coren.
Hardy has written hits for country acts Florida Georgia Line and Blake Shelton, among others, and earned three 2020 Country Music Award nominations for “One Beer.” In early August, he started warming up audiences on Jason Aldean’s “Back in the Saddle” tour while headlining his own dates in between Aldean shows.
Hardy early return to the road Lighting designer Zac Coren picked up with Hardy earlier this year and has known the artist for quite some time. “He didn’t have an LD and I was designing some things for him already,” Coren explains. “I was fortunate as Hardy was one of the first artists to get out there and start doing shows again. He did a lot of shows this past spring in smaller venues with lots of restrictions like limited capacity, pod distancing, outdoor sets, etc. It felt a bit like we were part of an experiment on how to do shows again but Hardy loves touring so we did what it took.”
Part country storyteller, part rocker, Hardy is a dynamic and versatile entertainer. “Honestly, he’s one of the coolest artists to work for,” Coren says. “He lets you do your thing; he might have a few comments at rehearsals but for the most part he trusts the folks working for him. After showing him some options, I helped guide him toward what I felt was best and we charted a path based on what he likes.”
Country with an edge Although Hardy is a country artist, loud guitars and drums definitely have a place in his shows and that combination is reflected in Coren’s design. “It’s not your clean and classic country look for sure but has more of an edge to it. I needed to take what is seemingly country and blend that with elements of a rock show so we have a lot of strobes and in-your-face kind of stuff.”
Bigger look Coren is on the road with the show as lighting director and says the tour is going great. After sharing transport for some time, they now have their own bus and trailers and are making an impact with an overall bigger setup. The lighting package consists of 20 compact Dartz 360 narrow beam moving heads, 4 Artiste Picasso profile moving heads, 4 Cuepix Blinder WW2, 4 Chorus Line 16 LED batten luminaires (used only in headlining shows), and 21x 32 Hex Panels from Elation sister-company ADJ. Lighting vendor is PTP Live (formally Genetic Productions).
The rig is divided into two parts, a floor-based section with the Elation and ADJ fixtures and an upper, flown section with fixtures from Jason Aldean’s rig. Unsure of what he could use of the Aldean rig going into the tour, angles in the upper package ended up complementing well the lower package on the ground, resulting in “a very good looking show.”
Dartz fill the void Two layers of floor-based truss sit atop upstage custom set carts with the back rail lined with 4 groups of 5 Dartz each, a fixture the designer has used for years now. With an empty void between the Dartz and the overhead truss to contend with, Coren turned to the narrow-beam fixture to fill the space with beams of light. “I use the Dartz in pretty much every song,” he says. “There are some songs where I’ll hold them back for a chorus but because they are so versatile I use them a lot.”
The Dartz, with their 3-degree aperture, gobo set and full 360-degree rotation, form an important part of the visual design and, according to Coren, shape the look of the show. “In one song, Give Heaven some Hell, I use the frost with a chase across the top in a calm look until the chorus where I do a big prism look.” And for a song called Boyfriend, which has a purple and pink color scheme, he uses the prisms “in a cool staggered look that fills everything in the back and air. It’s hard not to overuse these fixtures because they work for everything.”
Picasso complement Centered just below each set of five Dartz are Artiste Picasso profile moving heads, one in each truss. “They really complement everything in the air. I’m a big fan of having big blown out gobos and the Picasso graphics make some pretty looks. There are a few songs where I zoom them down but for the most part they are static texture lighting behind the band,” Coren says, adding that sometimes he uses them to light the artist.
The Chorus Line 16 LED battens provide sidelight but only when the artist plays his own headlining shows. Otherwise, he accesses battens from Aldean’s rig. Finally, the ADJ 32 Hex Panels, which line the lower truss and front of the set, play a key role as strobes, pixel-zone eye candy and color floods.
Catch Hardy opening for Jason Aldean across the U.S. and playing other dates until the end of October.
For more information about Elation Lighting and their Products line, you can visit www.elationlighting.com
When Germany-based Thomas Christmann saw Claypaky Xtylos at a Prolight + Sound expo in Frankfurt and marveled at how the beam “was cutting through everything,” he knew he had to work with the fixture some day.
The Lighting Designer and Lighting Director for metal band Korn since 2015, Christmann, who’s known as “Church,” thought the 2020 tour planned for the band would be the perfect opportunity to use the first moving head light with a laser light source. “I’m not a big fan of beam lights and try not to use them for effects lighting,” he says. “But I love the Xtylos beam, their color and speed and was eager to use them.”
Then the coronavirus pandemic intervened and 2020 touring for all bands was cancelled. But as soon as Korn was booked to play two 2021 summer festival dates, Church put 20 Xtylos from OSA International, Inc. in the rig for Rock Fest Wisconsin and the Upheaval Festival in Michigan. Now Korn has begun a 28-date US tour with Staind. The run kicked off in early August in West Palm Beach, Florida and will wrap at the end of September in Dallas. Church upped the ante and specified 36 Xtylos for the tour, also obtained from OSA. He mounted four each on top of a straight line of five upstage pods, which roll onto the set, and eight on each side of angled upstage trusses, which split over the drum riser.
“My lighting designs are pretty theatrical with cues and strong looks – I don’t go crazy with a lot of positions,” Church explains. “The Xtylos’s beam light was very impressive when I saw it the first time, and I trust OSA’s (Vice President, Lighting) Mark Fetto, whom I’ve worked with since I started doing Korn’s tours. I love the look of the beam and how it works with colors. Other beam lights don’t work well with colors, but with Xtylos even the red punches through. The strong looks Xtylos delivers, even with colors, makes the stage look even bigger than it is.”
Church has not been able to leave Germany to join the US tour, so he has not actually seen Xtylos in person. “I’ve never had my hands on them yet! I want to see them in real life so bad!” he exclaims. Church preprogrammed the festival dates in Germany, but for the tour he handed over the design to Lighting Director Matt Mills, who programmed and operated the show. “I wanted Matt to feel comfortable with the show and how to run it,” he explains.
Mills notes that, “at first, like a lot of LDs, I thought Xtylos was just a Sharpy with a laser for the lamp, but it is so much more. Using a typical beam fixture, there’s no way I would even consider putting a gobo and two prisms in the beam path due to loss of intensity. That is certainly not a problem with the Xtylos.
“Korn is very dynamic: They go from hard in your face riffs to slow and subtle breakdowns,” he explains. “When they’re cranking I am usually doing some sort of aggressive effect with the Xtylos, kind of like what I would do with a Sharpy, but the colors out of the Xtylos really cut through everything, so I can make a red and white strobe look and actually be able to see the red.
The band often ends songs with a long, drawn out guitar tone, and with that I will take the Xtylos and drop in a few prisms, put them in a deep congo blue and scan the crowd. It really is a great effect that would not read with a typical beam fixture.”
Mills says he’s having “so much fun” that he wonders if he’s overusing them. “I usually like to build a show and hold some things back for later, but management really loved [the Xtylos] and kept pushing me to add them in more and more. Besides all the cool ‘laser-type’ looks I am able to get, there is a point in one song that really stands out.
During the chorus of ‘Cold,’ I have 16 of the Xtylos doing an offset circle effect in red. The lighting and the video at that point are both very bright white, and the red still cuts through just fine. Pretty much after each show a few fellow lighting nerds ask, ‘What the hell are those?’”
OSA’s Mark Fetto, who supplied the entire lighting crew for the tour, says that Mills ”has done a great job with the Xtylos. He’s getting more out of them than I’ve seen anybody do, including some really neat effects.” Even though he’s physically distanced from the Korn tour, Church is pleased with the new creative options that the Xtylos affords him and is ever hopeful of getting hands-on with them soon. “They are great fixtures,” he says. “I want to use this kind of design for Korn’s shows in October and their upcoming dates in Europe in 2022, so if that happens the Xtylos will be there.”
For more info about Claypaky and their products line, you can visit www.claypaky.com
Despite being situated thousands of miles east of Russia’s more well-known cultural centres like Moscow and St. Petersburg, the city of Irkutsk has a long and storied theatre tradition all its own. Chief among its many fine theatres is the Irkutsk Academic Drama Theatre of N.P. Okhlopkov; the oldest theatre in Eastern Siberia and the cultural hub of the region.
Founded in 1850 and currently celebrating 170 years as a cultural institution, the theatre recently worked with Light Power Design (LPD) to upgrade its technical offering, including a state-of-the-art automated lighting rig from Elation Professional, an Adaptive Systems audio package from EAW, and a pair of native 4K laser projectors from Digital Projection.
“LPD have used Digital Projection for many years and have always been more than happy with the result,” said Digital Projection’s business development manager for Russia & CIS, Alex Gnatyuk.
“When they received a request to upgrade the theatre in Irkutsk, they asked us to bring something new and interesting on the projection technology front; particularly in regards to native 4K resolution.”
Although the Irkutsk Academic Drama Theatre has a tradition of high technical excellence, the venue’s management decided that the best way to nurture a new generation of theatregoers was to employ more modern means of communication with its audience. When the executive director from LPD, Mikhail Morozov, began batting around ideas involving holograms, Alex Gnatyuk suggested that the Insight Dual Laser was the perfect fit for such an ambitious project.
“We were the only manufacturer of native 4K DLP projectors with acceptable price on the Russian market,” Alex Gnatyuk said. “We provided them with a Titan Laser 37000 WUXGA and an Insight Dual Laser 4K, as well as seven lenses for different purposes.”
The Insight Dual Laser 4K projector is able to create additional figues and crowd scenes using a braided silver net as a projection surface, though this is not yet a common occurance at the theatre given how difficult it is to create holographic content.
“The main problem at the launch of the project was to ensure the operability of the entire system with 4K content without quality loss,” said Alex Gnatyuk. “This was done to ensure the audience would be fully immersed in the action taking place on the stage.
Delivery difficulties and work restrictions due to COVID-19 also added to the complexity of this project, but other than these small hurdles, the whole process went very smoothly. LPD is highly qualified company with great specialists on hand and, as always, they were more than happy with the quality of technology provided.”
LPD’s Mikhail Morozov added: “We were looking for the best possible solution for the theatre, as well as ensuring the best possible image, light, and sound quality. To do so, we needed to make sure that all of the equipment was reliable, first and foremost. Digital Projection, with their projectors’ built-in IP60 sealed optics and five-year warranty, have become the best choice when creating the most reliable system that will delight theatergoers for many years.”
Italian audio company RCF introduces two powered portable speakers with uncompromising fidelity. Flexibility, power, and small footprint make the TT 515-A speaker and TT 808-AS subwoofer ideal for high-powered portable and installed professional applications where size and weight are critical factors.
This approach combines the advantages of RCF TT+ technology such as controlled dispersion, outstanding clarity, high-power, multiple rigging accessories, weather protection, and RDNET software connection for real-time management with recallable presets.
TT 515-A
TT 515-A is a 127 dB speaker that fits in the palm of your hand and can be used as a main speaker system, or to supplement a larger system, a 3D/immersive sound system, or high-quality installations.
The transducer configuration of the TT 515-A pairs two symmetrical custom-loaded 5″ cone drivers to a rotatable CMD waveguide surrounding a titanium 1.75″ high-frequency compression driver, all powered by a two-channel 1,000W RMS Class-D amplifier.
The multiple rigging accessories and the unobtrusive form factor of the cabinet are suitable for a wide range of configurations including hanging, pole-, truss-, wall- or ceiling-mounting—in horizontal or vertical orientation—with a rotatable waveguide and logo plate.
The well-studied arrangement of the two 5 ”and their phase plugs with the rotating waveguide. Also notice the size of the vents.
The TT 515 response, 80 Hz to 20 kHz ± 3 dB, an excellent job with a little boost in the lows and a straight line in the highs. Full of potentiality audio to be used.
Once again a nice chart with a real 80° horizontal dispersion with just a tiny drop probably around the crossover point.
TT 808-AS
TT 808-AS subwoofer features two high-power 8″ woofers with vented frontal loading powered by a two-channel 1,000W RMS Class-D amplifier. The compact cabinet can be used in both horizontal and vertical orientation or paired for cardioid, arc, and other complex subwoofers configurations using RDNet. TT 808-AS also includes balancing brackets for improved vertical stability and a rotatable logo.
Opened the TT 808-AS looks like a big double 18”. In reality the transducers are indeed 8 ”and this compact sub is the perfect companion to the TT 515-A.
The TT 808-AS power and DSP module featuring three in & out ports for the mains, the analog audio and the RDNet network management.
The onboard DSP provides flexible control of speakers’ parameters and packs a high-level DSP circuit with proprietary Bass Motion Control (BMC) and FiRPHASE processing to achieve coherent distribution of sound without phase distortion and deep, tight bass at any volume.
BMC extends the lowest audible frequency without affecting the transducer’s stability, limiting over-excursions for greater reliability and superior performance at high volume levels. The advanced FiRPHASE processing optimizes dynamics amplitude and time behavior for a 0° linear phase response.
TT 808-AS Starts precisely where the 515 needs it and adds a full octave of punchy and useful bass. 129 dB SPL Max to play with.
One of the ways to combine these two speakers.
The waterproof cabinet is built in high-strength baltic birch plywood coated with black, robust, and scratch-resistant polyurea paint. The amplifier is mounted to a solid machined aluminum structure at the back, where heat dissipation is fast and efficient. The enclosure is sturdy and rigid with a strong powder-coated metal grille that protects the face, and an acoustically transparent sound foam backing on the inside of the grille ensures protection from dust and humidity.
Pairing TT 515-A speaker with TT 808-AS subwoofer creates a potent full-range main system with an incredible size-to-power ratio. You can pack a full-range stereo system with two TT 515-A, two TT 808-AS subwoofers, poles, and cables in less than 200-liters of volume.
Whether it’s used as a compact main system, as fills, or surrounds in a larger system, it’s quick to deploy and fast to tune. With TT+ sonic signature, RDNet networked management, weatherproof cabinets, and a wide range of accessories, there is always a place for TT 515-A and TT808-AS.
Companies opening an office in Prague simply cannot ignore “The Park”. This business complex in the south of the Czech capital is made up of 12 buildings and eight restaurants on an area of around 120,000 m2 and is home to global players such as 3M, Fujitsu, Samsung and DHL.
In order not to leave the impressive glass facades of the office buildings unused in the dark after work and sunset, The Park’s operators – the White Star Real Estate company – chose to bring in large-scale architectural lighting. For the complex illumination job, integrators Foxtron relied exclusively on Cameo’s ZENIT® P130 LSD LED PAR lights.
“For this particular project, we had to find fixtures that not only impressed with their high light output and excellent colour quality, but that were also compact enough to fit to the building’s shape, including into existing recesses,” explains Jan Kadlec, Managing Director of Foxtron. “The Cameo ZENIT P130 meets all these requirements.”
Since the start of the year, a grand total of 170 ZENIT P130 LSDs have been illuminating The Park’s facades. The project necessitated Foxtron installing IP65 floodlights in the ground, on the floor, and on walls, as well as in The Park’s various iron flower tubs.
“The P130 is a really robust spotlight and has so far withstood all the rigours of continuous use without any problems whatsoever,” says Kadlec. This all bodes well for The Park, as the facade lighting is due to be expanded even further in the future. So 170 lights in, and this project is still a long way from being finished!
In 2018, Cameo celebrated its debut at NicLen GmbH when the ZENIT Series became part of the rental park’s portfolio. Since then, Germany’s leading dry hire provider has achieved numerous successes. In addition to the ZENIT W600 and W300 outdoor wash lights and the battery-powered ZENIT B200, the dry hire range now also includes OPUS Series moving heads and F Series Fresnels.
The OPUS X profile moving heads and the OPUS H5 beam spot wash hybrid moving heads are now also available in the Dortmund warehouse, and are available for a wide range of applications in the live and event sectors. Alongside the OPUS spotlights, NicLen now also offers LED outdoor spotlights from the Cameo FLAT PRO Series with 16 mm TV spigots based on patented SPIN16 technology.
An overview of the new Cameo spotlights at NicLen:
Opus X
OPUS X
With its 750 W white light LED and particularly efficient light engine, the OPUS X high-power moving head achieves the same light output for which conventional devices require 1,000 W. Combined with the CMY colour mixing system and a wide zoom range from 6° to 46°, the flagship of the OPUS Series enables consistent projections without annoying hotspots, even in the most demanding environments. The OPUS X can be controlled via the integrated W-DMX receiver, DMX, RDM, Art-Net or sACN.
Opus H5
OPUS H5
The OPUS H5 is the Swiss army knife in the Cameo moving heads range. This versatile beam, spot and wash light hybrid delivers 18,000 lm of light output and particularly impressed the specialists at Niclen with its compact design. Its Osram Sirius HRI 470 W discharge lamp creates powerful beams and high-quality mid-air effects over a wide zoom range of 2° to 42°.
FLAT PRO 7 G2 & FLAT PRO 12 G2
As the name suggests, the FLAT PRO Series is the ideal solution when space is at a premium and flat spotlights are required. The compact LED outdoor spotlights – featuring RGBWA colour blend and high refresh rate – are the new Cameo PAR all-rounders at the NicLen rental park and are available in versions with 7 (FLAT PRO 7 G2) and 12 (FLAT PRO 12 G2) high-intensity 10-watt LEDs. Customers also benefit from the pre-installed SPIN16 spigot – a fold-out 16-mm TV spigot based on patented Cameo SPIN16 technology.
Cameo Flat Pro 7 G2
Cameo Flat Pro 12 G2
Trusting cooperation
“Cameo’s lighting technology portfolio is becoming more versatile year after year. The developers continue to surprise us with innovative solutions that comprehensively cover the needs of our broad customer base,” explains Jörg Stöppler, who, together with Nico Valasik, manages NicLen GmbH.
Markus Jahnel, COO of the Adam Hall Group, adds: “We are delighted that NicLen, one of the largest dry hire providers in Europe, has relied on our Cameo lighting solutions for many years. Over the years, our cooperation has continued to grow and has not suffered, even during the corona virus crisis. We are looking forward to seeing what the future brings and where we will see the different Cameo models in use in the coming months.”
The hospitality headquarters for Italy’s Olympic team and its partners, was based at The Kihinkan – Takanawa Manor House during Tokyo 2020. This wonderful art nouveau building in the Minato district was selected by The Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) after inspecting 60 different locations.
The decision to choose the building, which dates back to the start of the last century and is characterised by its Liberty-style architecture, was vindicated by the impressive way in which lighting designer Massimo Pascucci colour-washed the exterior.
Tasked by CONI to produce this dramatic façade, he chose 22 of GLP’s Fusion Stick FS20 battens a product with which he is well familiar and enjoys using. These were supplied by rental company, Musical Box Rent.
The power and versatility of the FS20 is an important fact. Each batten contains 20 x 15W RGBW LEDs, offering a variety of different beam angles with their beam shaping front filters. Offering seamless connection and the advanced optics delivering consistent colour, the fanless and IP-rated design makes it silent and ideal for outdoor use.
The blocks of vibrant static colour emitted by the Fusion FS20 were controlled by an MA Lighting grandMA console, programmed by Daniel Davino. The IP65-rated fixtures were set discreetly into trays in the footwells of the building.
A special thanks goes from Massimo Pascucci to the CONI marketing director, Dr. Diego Nepi Molineris, for his belief in the project.
Such an inviting venue played its part in ensuring that Italy’s Olympic team were able to enjoy its best Olympics ever, taking home a record medal haul.
Nobody can deny that the last eighteen months have been difficult and challenging, especially for our people-orientated industry. Limitations on work, movement and contacts have been hard on everyone. But as restrictions started to ease and the industry begins to open up, LiteNordic, Ayrton’s exclusive distributor for Norway, Sweden and Denmark, came up with an ingenious way to reconnect with their customers and lighting designers in a safe, fun way after a near 2-year hiatus.
They hired a camper van, threw in a bunch of IP65 rated lighting fixtures, including Ayrton’s Perseo Profile and Perseo Beam, and took them out on a camping road trip. They set up camp in forests outside Norway’s three main cities: Stavanger, Oslo and Bergen where they invited lighting designers, rental companies, sales companies and other of their colleagues and clients to join them for a barbecue and, if they wished, a night under the stars, sleeping in hammocks beneath tarpaulins.
Organised by Lite Nordic’s Aleksander Kjær-Wilhelmsen and Petter Nilssen, Camp LiteNordic: Into the Wilderness was, as Kjær-Wilhelmsen is keen to point out, “more about people than product. It gave us the opportunity to take people out of their comfort zone and routine a little, and relax for a nice evening that focused on fun rather than fixtures.
It gave us all a chance to meet and catch up after a long period of isolation when we have all suffered hardships. However, after a few beers and sausages, curiosity overcame our guests and when they asked about the IP65 rated fixtures we were very happy to show them through the features before returning to our camp fire. No matter how much you escape to the woods, people are always interested in looking at the lights!”
“It was the perfect scenario in which to see the IP65 fixtures in their best environment,” adds Nilssen. “They were designed for outside use and it is impossible to show the variety of effects in a studio or theatre. But the depth and texture of the forest lent a totally different range of looks to the gobo projections and animations on the trees and in midair which you just wouldn’t see indoors. We were very excited to see how many of our guests took the time to come along, despite schedules becoming busier as Norway starts to open up.”
The hammocks and tarpaulins were branded with LiteNordic and Ayrton logos and the hammocks emblazoned with the slogan “Master of the Elements” (the declaration from Domino, Ayrton’s long-throw IP65 spot fixture) and the words ‘keeps you dry’ – a fact which proved correct at Bergen where it rained heavily!
All those who camped out were allowed to take the hammocks and tarpaulins home with them. “Everyone loved the hammocks and tarps and can’t wait to put them to use again,” says Kjær-Wilhelmsen.
“With Norway’s music and festival scene slowly reopening, they are proving just the thing for technicians and crew to take with them.” “We would like to thank LiteNordic for all their hard work in putting this wonderful event together – what a fun and inventive way to have fun with lights and friends!” says Ayrton’s Linnea Ljungmark.
“Going into nature brings people closer together and Camp LiteNordic gave us a great opportunity to spent time with our customers and get to know them better. It was also a good chance to experience the Norwegian culture of outdoor life, and very relaxing to be surrounded by the natural world.
“Having said that, the weather conditions were extremely damp with thick fog by morning, so it was a great opportunity to trial and test the fixtures in damp conditions. The Perseo fixtures stayed out in that moist air for 24 hours with no problems at all, proving they are superb all-weather fixtures.”
For more information about Ayrton and its range of LED lighting fixtures, you can visit www.ayrton.eu
Lighting designer Mathieu Cabanes discovered the new possibilities offered by Robert Juliat’s latest 800W LED followspot, Arthur, on Les Folies Broadway, a large symphonic show performed this summer at the Domaine D’O in Montpellier.
“I use Robert Juliat followspots very often. I particularly appreciate the artistic touch that a followspot can bring to a live show,” says Mathieu Cabanes. “New products and technologies are offered to us every year and I like to study these and their functions and make sure I use the right tool for each application.
“I first used LED followspots on a Robert Wilson show in Indonesia, I La Galigo. They were Japanese models and the result was quite disappointing because the power was supposed to match a Robert Juliat Cyrano followspot, but in fact they were weaker than a Robert Juliat 710 profile with iris. The colour also did not offer us great CRI possibilities for such a colourful show. After this first experimentation, I decided to wait for a great development from Robert Juliat.
“On the advice of my friend Frédéric ‘Aldo’ Fayard, lighting designer at Concept K, and with the help of Ludwig Lepage, Robert Juliat’s product manager, I discovered the Arthur 800W LED followspot and the SpotMe artist tracking device.” Cabanes then decided to use the Arthur followspot during a symphonic show with 72 musicians and two renowned soloists in the 1800-seat amphitheatre of Domaine d’O in Montpellier.
“I compared the Arthur to an HMI followspot,” he says, “and I was really surprised by this little jewel of technology. Arthur doesn’t necessarily replace all of the HMI followspots, but it complements them by offering a large number of functions that add brushstrokes to our paint palette. The precision and finesse of this followspot combined with a good followspot operator gives powerful, high quality results.
“The base white LED source with its 90 CRI is beautiful! The combination of colour gels can quickly become complex when used on an LED source, but with Arthur, the colour matches are very smooth and consistent. I used a range of CTO/CTB, Lavender and Blue. The CTO built into the fixture was still the best solution my assistant, Gaspard Juan, made for me for warm colours.”
Cabanes also liked the different dimming modes of this model. “Quite often, a pick up can be very abrupt with an HMI followspot and I tend to specify fades in 2 seconds throughout the show, even if the performer enters abruptly. Arthur’s dimming modes bring a nice fluidity to the user.” Cabanes also liked the fact that the lack of heat from Arthur’s LED source makes operating the followspot a much more comfortable experience for the operator. As for the new DMX features, they give the console operator the ability to limit the intensity of the fixture, depending on the colour and visual balance required on stage.
“This followspot gives us a lot of new possibilities combined with high power and a nice base colour. Arthur is also very comfortable for the user and allows the operator to concentrate on refining their fluidity and precision,” concludes Cabanes.
For more information about Robert Juliat Arthur LED followspot and their products line, you can visit www.robertjuliat.fr
Proud Embankment in London’s West End is a venue defined by its world-class cabaret shows, embodying the spirit of true diversity with the sounds, styles, and vibes of a spectacular show-stopping mix including International circus and cabaret acts, death-defying aerialists, fearsome fire breathers, and astonishing acrobats, headlined by celebrity comperes.
photo Alex Rice
This iconic venue, situated on the North bank of the River Thames and at the heart of the UK’s vibrant metropolis, was determined to have a high-impact post-Covid reopening. One of the first venues to open its doors after the second lockdown, Proud had undergone a transformative renovation, with a huge investment in its production values and the installation of 14 new Robe Pointe moving lights to accompany the talent, colour, and energy of the performances.
Robe Pointe
The new Pointes were specified by Proud Embankment’s in-house lighting designer Jack Knight and purchased specially for the venue by regular lighting supplier, North London rental and installation specialist, Halo. The Pointes are a completely new addition to the existing house lighting rig and are positioned all around the stage with several on a goal post at the back, from where they provide the main
effects lighting looks. Robe’s highly versatile Pointe was an easy choice for Jack. “It is a properly ‘multipurpose fixture’ in every sense of the word,” he stated. “As well as being fast and virtually instantaneous in response, Pointes are hugely flexible with a great range of colours, gobos and effects that allow you to be highly creative.” He adds that the small size of the luminaire is also ideal to create a cosy and intimate atmosphere in a vast, spectacular space with a double-height atrium and high ceilings.
Jack has been using Robe products in his lighting work for about the last six years and has been the chief house lighting and sound technician at Proud Embankment for the last three years. In that time there have been various other Robe fixtures on the rig including MMX Spots and Spiiders, and overall, Jack considers the brand to be “highly reliable and a gold standard” in moving light technology.
photo Alex Rice
Proud Embankment’s Cabaret All Stars show runs Wednesdays through Saturday evenings, with the new Proud Late nightclub on Fridays and Saturdays and weekend daytime brunches, alongside private hire parties, award ceremonies and film shoots, so all the lights on the rig are worked overtime! The late-night events tend to be lit to create a slightly darker and moodier atmosphere, while the main shows are brighter, sparkling with the glamour and glitz of a West End sellout success. The Pointes are a good all-around moving light that is “ideal” for any occasion. A challenge in lighting the space is that the room is almost 360 degrees around the stage, so everything must look good from all angles. Effectively it is an in-the-round scenario.
Making this work for the range of shows and events is also one of the fun parts of being a resident LD and tech, explains Jack who must be prepared for anything! There are several ‘busking’ pages set up in the Avolites Tiger Touch II console containing basic building blocks from which he can evolve a slick-looking show almost on the fly, and with the Pointes to hand, he knows there is plenty of scope for producing great results.
photo Alex Rice
Jack lights most of the Proud Embankment shows himself and also runs audio. Re-opening has generated serious excitement on all levels – from performers and artists eager to get back onstage and in front of their audience, to technical production and operational staff looking forward to welcoming VIPs, celebrities and its loyal customers back. Halo has been Proud Embankment’s lighting supplier for the last 10 years, and the company has also been a steady and long-term customer of Robe UK. Halo owner / founder Yann Guenancia stated:
“I am constantly impressed with the team at Proud and their trailblazing policies of investing in technical production to get an edge. This latest addition of Robe Pointes underscores the importance of good lighting to enhance and deliver the best overall show presentations for guests and artists.” He believes today’s audiences are more tech-savvy than ever and are highly likely to appreciate visual and sonic improvements but also notice when sound and light effects are poor. “As a brand, Proud is definitely standing out in its commitment to audiences in a highly competitive market, and we are very happy to be part of that journey.”
For more info about Robe lighting and their products line, you can visit www.robe.cz
DiGiCo’s theatre extension software for its Quantum and SD ranges of consoles has made it the ubiquitous choice of theatre sound designers in the West End and on Broadway. Now, DiGiCo has released the ‘T’ software for the SD12, introducing this console that has found great favour in the live music market to the auditoriums of theatres around the globe.
Featuring powerful, refined hardware and Stealth Digital Processing, the SD12T’s functionality and work surface are instantly reconfigured to provide the specialist theatre programming tools that deliver the versatility needed for theatre sound design, rehearsal and show operation.
The new SD12T has 96 inputs as standard, 48 busses and a 12 x 8 Matrix and features a flexible, expandable I/O structure that includes dual DMI card slots making it perfect for expandability with industry formats such as Analogue expansion, Dante and Waves SoundGrid. The SD12’s extensive local I/O section offers eight mic line inputs, eight line outs, eight mono AES/EBU, dual MADI in/out and optional Optocore for expanded Rack connectivity.
DiGiCo Brand Ambassador, Dan Page.
“Our T consoles are incredibly popular because they address so many of the specifics of theatre productions,” says DiGiCo Brand Ambassador, Dan Page. “In recent months, our theatre customers, particularly those working on regional tours, have been asking for another compact, cost-effective desk. The SD12 is extremely popular in other market sectors and fits the bill for them in terms of size. Adding the theatre specific software tools now gives the SD12 the same feature set as with our other ‘T’ consoles, making it the ideal addition to the T range.”
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