Having the ultimate set of hand tools can make you the most popular tech on a tour. It also means you will constantly be updating your kit with newer models as you replace the tools that were permanently borrowed, as well as all the expendables (screws, rivets, tape) exhausted. PLSN reached out to several online forums to ask what tool was their most indispensable.
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If there is one category that has changed dramatically over the last few years, it would be moving heads with white-light only LED light sources. Three years ago, all the major manufacturers offered at least a pancake LED fixture. With a few notable exceptions — Claypaky has an excellent one — not as many of these particular fixtures are offered these days. So for PLSN’s Buyers Guide this month, we decided to run the gamut, expanding the focus to include all kinds of products with a white light LED light source, ranging from LED tape to spotlights and lights designed for use with a camera.
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Whether you are lifting something up or pulling it across a stage, the one constant in all live productions is it has to work every time on command and be able to handle the load. There are many devices made to handle different weights and moving them at certain speeds. Variable speeds are great for moving trusses and scenery quickly. But more often, the user just wants a steady, safe speed when lifting heavy objects. This month we have the best of both worlds, as you choose the best gear for your application.
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The days of xenon bulbs in strobes is just about over. Diversitronics, the one-time leader in the market, has stopped making fixtures, but they still sell bulbs. Solaris Strobe still offers one, and you may still be able to find a Lightning Strike in a Hollywood shop. The GAM Star Strobe (marketed by Rosco) is now a double-ended xenon flicker, but everyone else is now LED. The Martin Atomic got itself an Aura. The Ayrton MagicBurst is a strobe machine unlike any other. GLP may just be the leader these days with lots of functions — and a strobe with a tilt function. And all these babies are bright. Happy shopping, and be glad you’re just looking a photos and not actual units fired up at 100 percent.
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It’s only been two years since we last checked in on what fixtures were on the market in this category. We’re back so quickly because… Read More »LED Source Hard Edge Spots
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It’s been three years since PLSN has had a Buyers Guide on truss. While many manufacturers seem to make the standard 12-inch and 20.5-inch box… Read More »Truss Products
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One of the most important pieces of gear in the dimmer area has always been a dependable opto splitter, which gets DMX info to every fixture spread over your stage, trade floor or installation. Nowadays there are several types to choose from. They range from simple one-universe in and four 5-pin outs to Swiss Army knife-type models that accept RDM, DMX and Art-Net and can split, merge or spit out streams of info. There are even models that can tell you if your cable has a short, is terminated or is simply unplugged.
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LED Battens hit the scene more than 10 years ago. Some LDs were searching for the ultimate color mixing cyc light, while others wanted a new LED footlight to use for their cameras. Eventually, designers pointed them towards the audience, and the term eye candy took on a whole new meaning. Original models such as the Chroma-Q Color Force have been updated with serious improvements, and other manufacturers have added their own innovations to this dynamic product category. Take a look at all of the latest models and see what each has to offer.
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As I walk along convention floors, I often notice cool little gadgets, from tools to lights to smoke devices and more. Each of these fits a nice little niche in our world of live events. Whether it’s a physical gadget, pressurized effect or an electronic device, we’ve compiled a few nifty devices we felt were worth a look this month.
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It’s been two years since PLSN presented a Buyers Guide on video cabinets. Since then, just about every company has updated their product line with new and unique products. Whether they are higher resolution, curved models or waterproof tiles, they are all being engineered for faster assembly, lighter weight and higher quality. Take a look at the latest products from these leaders in the business.
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There’s a fine line between entertainment and architectural lighting. They even invented the term “archi-tainment” for such a reason. There comes a time in every… Read More »Exterior Architectural Lights
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While stage lighting advances occur yearly, the art of lighting the audience is often overlooked. In today’s new arena and theater installations, the buildings are making it easier for touring LDs to control the house lights. The first series of audience blinders to become popular were the Mole Feys. Mole Richardson manufactured these various sized fixtures around the amount of DWE par 36 wide bulbs that the user wanted. They were soon used on tours so touring acts could see their audience on cue. AC/DC incorporated over 100 of these on their last tour. Almost any bright light illuminating the audience from stage is now just called a “blinder.” Here’s a look at a bunch of fixtures lighting audiences these days.
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