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Elation Platinum FLX
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Chauvet Professional Next NXT-1
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Martin RUSH PAR 2 CT Zoom
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Robe Square
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Blizzard Lighting BlockHead
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Elation ACL 360 Matrix
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Ayrton MagicPanel
On September 25th, 1981, the British band Genesis stepped onto stage for the debut of its “Abacab” world tour—an opening night happening in a bullring in Barcelona, Spain, nonetheless. What happened next surely entranced the audience: the lights came up, began to change color, and in a seemingly out-of-this-world experience, began to move. For the first time in history, lighting had become automated, and it has never looked back since.
Over the past 10 years, just as technology in other sectors has exploded, the moving fixture market has seen the same jump. What was once out of reach for many churches, in terms of both price and infrastructure needed, is now well within grasp. Let's be honest though, the options here have grown from adequate to down right exhausting at times. The knockoff market has certainly not helped the lure of cost-saving buyers.
However, with the influx of new categories, enhanced technology, and fixtures that serve multiple roles, purchasing moving lights should be seen as a positive step for any worship space. And most of the major manufacturers have expanded their product offerings to meet the needs of a wider marketplace.
Unfortunately, few things induce fear, trembling, and anxiety in a pastor more than the term “moving lights.” When advancing into new territory, or simply adding to an existing inventory within your lighting program, the
thought of anything that moves is typically met with rolling eyes and blank stares. Sure, the investment and scope of use might not be the right choice for your worship space. But as products intended for all levels of application saturate the market, it only makes sense to give directed thought to how the addition of moving lights might benefit your ministry in the long run. It's not merely the addition of these fixtures that needs to be considered, but also, it's important to understand the full array of new options available—options that unlock a world of potential.
LED Innovations
If there were one category that is revolutionizing the lighting world, LED technology would be it. From the cost-savings of bulb replacement to advancement of light engine technology, companies have hedged their technology more and more into this market. For houses of worship, LED-based moving fixtures address several issues that are common deterrents: infrastructure and upkeep. Lower power draw along with the extended lifespan of the lighting element has given these fixtures a much more attractive place among potential buyers. Considering that most LED engines are rated for a minimum 20,000 hour life span on up–compared with 2,000 hours for your typical discharge lamp–the cost and time saving benefits here are notable for anyone looking for long-term stability in that regard.
One of the more exciting developments in LED lighting has been with panel-type moving fixtures. Featuring a flat, square-shaped head, these present looks and options typically not attainable with traditionally shaped fixtures. From rich washes to tight beam shaping, they can be used in a myriad of ways from simple to complex. Not only that, many feature the ability to network into a media server, allowing for video content and pixel mapping—again, a limitless canvas for lighting designers to work from.
French manufacturer Ayrton was one of the first to bring this concept to market. Its Magic Panel fixture has become a mainstay in touring productions, among other events and installations. Since its introduction, additional fixtures of this type have been released, each with varying features, sizes, output, and performance. Other manufacturers and models include the Elation ACL 360 Matrix, Chauvet NXT-1, Robe Square, and Blizzard Lighting's BlockHead. With any fixture in this category, realizing its full capabilities takes a seasoned programmer. Yet the advantages allow for creative possibilities in the future, with the addition of a media server or more complex control surface.
For houses of worship, LED-based moving fixtures address several issues that are common deterrents: infrastructure and upkeep.
While LED technology presents many upsides, situations requiring a high-output fixture–especially those for profile and aerial effects–have been limited. And when space, power, and rigging options are at a premium, it only complicates the matter. Recently, Martin Lighting released its Quantum Profile. Claiming to be comparable to a 700W discharge lamp, it gives designers a powerful LED-based option with all of the bells and whistles desired in a profile fixture, including CMY color mixing, static and indexing gobo wheels, and an array of effects macros. At just 51 pounds, it provides a significant weight reduction for rigging.
Elation has recently introduced a high-power profile fixture of its own. The Satura Profile features a 440W LED engine that enables a 20,000-lumen output. Along with CMY color mixing, gobo wheels, prism, frost, and variable dimming curves, the fixture has both DMX and Ethernet input, allowing for networked protocol control.
Featuring its Robin DL4S and larger Robin DL7S profile fixtures, Robe offers two high-power profile fixtures, as well. With full color mixing, gobo, and prism options, the fixtures' four framing shutters are individually controllable, giving designers a unique option for beam shaping and shading. As with the Elation units, these also feature both DMX and Ethernet connectivity.
With all of these fixtures, many issues with LED technology, such as erratic dimming curves and shadows, have been eradicated, providing a seamless and clean optical performance meeting the demands of both live and broadcast situations.
Hybrids
The name of the game for many church budgets, especially when it comes to production, is maximizing impact for the best value. In the lighting world, this means careful selection of fixture types that will accomplish multiple roles, delivering the biggest bang for the buck. For several years, lighting manufacturers have aimed to create hybrid fixtures, or those that can perform multiple roles when needed.
Chauvet's Rogue RH1 is a spot/beam hybrid featuring multiple prism sets, static and indexing gobo wheels, and a 13-hue color wheel that opens up multiple possibilities. The company says the fixture has the ability to work with beam angles from one degree up to 19 degrees. With a 330W discharge lamp, it's a powerful fixture for a wide variety of applications.
American DJ, which has seen a big jump in the church market in recent years, features the new Vizi Hybrid 16RX, one of its largest and most powerful moving head fixtures to date. Described as a spot/beam/wash hybrid, it gives users a full set of prism, frost, and gobo options, along with output comparable to a 575W fixture.
Many LED fixtures feature the ability to network into a media server, allowing for video content and pixel mapping.
Other new offerings in the hybrid class are Elation's Platinum FLX, SBX, and HFX fixtures. Each features similar functions, color options and correction, gobo wheels, and prism and frost capabilities. With the FLX sporting a 480W discharge lamp down to the HFX with a 280W lamp, the line gives three options for size and output needs. Giving users multiple connectivity options, the fixtures feature five-pin standard DMX along with Ethernet connections that support the RDM, KlingNET and Art-NET protocols.
Compact Fixtures
When space, rigging, and weight restrictions come into play, the need for a compact fixture becomes essential. Unfortunately in years past, the choice for these types of fixtures meant relinquishing attractive features and optical performance. Fortunately, many of these downfalls have been addressed, giving users all the functionality needed within a small footprint.
Martin's RUSH series offers several models aimed to bring feature-rich fixtures in a compact package. The LED-based MH5 Profile and MH2 Wash both come in under 20 pounds and in an equally impressive small size. Loaded with two eight-slot color wheels, indexing and static gobo wheels, and prisms, the MH5 brings plenty of spot and aerial effects with its 75W LED engine. For a wash fixture, the MH2 features an RGBW mixing system along with an electronic “color wheel” with indexing and rotation. In the same series, Martin offers the larger MH1 Profile Plus and MH6 Wash, which still use LED technology but offer higher optical output, suitable for larger applications and coverage.
Another new addition to the compact category is the Robe Viva. At just under 40 pounds and fitted with a 270W LED engine–along with all of the color wheel, gobo, and indexing features expected for a profile fixture–users will have a high-powered option for even large spaces. The fixture also features DMX and Ethernet control inputs.
Other compact fixtures worth a look include Chauvet's LED-based Rogue R1 Spot and R1 Wash, as well as Blizzard Lighting's Torrent Streak and Torrent FZ models.
Finding the Right Fit
For a band seeking to push the envelope of production in the early 80s, Genesis sought out ways to make it a reality. When the Vari-Lite VH1 demo units were brought over to an old barn in England for the band to observe, band member Mike Rutherford, upon seeing the unit in action, said, "I expected the color change, but by jove, I didn't know it was going to move.”
It's easy to play the game of comfort and familiarity, sticking with what you know and coasting through each year. But with the expansive array of lighting options available, it's as good of a time as any to not only improve your worship atmosphere but to push yourself in creative design and implementation. Technology has reached a point, especially for budgets and applications of all sizes and shapes, to be tactfully integrated in fresh ways, expanding the artistic canvas for your ministry.
