Update: Lightwright 5 Right Around the Corner

We just received a note from City Theatrical, the US distributor of Lightwright, that version 5 release is right around the corner. The software update was announced around the time of LDI 2008 and has been in beta testing since then.  There have been some major upgrades to the software that have been sought after for a while in the program.

The update is expected to start to shipping mid may.  Click though to City Theatricals website with more information, feature listing and some nice looking screen shots of the update.  We have not heard a definitive answer on pricing yet, but the current retail price for the full version is $449.95 and $184.50 for the upgrade from a previous version.

Announcement: iPhone PocketLD Application

Right before LDI this year in Las Vegas, Michael Zinman announced the release of PocketLD for the Apple iPhone application.  The PocketLD is a database and calculation tool for the entertainment lighting professional.  With PocketLD, you are able to enter the throw distance that you require, then select a manufacturer of a particular lighting fixture and lamp.  PocketLD will calculate the beam and field diameter as well as the foot canleda and lumens that will be produced with the information you selected. PocketLD offer access directly to the manufacturers website by touching their respective URL within the application to learn more about a particular fixture.

Manufacturers Included in the application:

• ADV
• Altman Stage Lighting – Theatre/TV/Film/HID
• Arri
• Colortran/Leviton
• Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC)
• Mole Richardson
• Selecon
• Strand Lighting – Theatre/TV/Film/HID
• Generic PAR fixtures

Fixture & Lamp Databases Included in the application:

• Beam & Field Angles
• ANSI Lamp codes
• Wattage
• Color Temperature (Kelvin)
• Lamp Hours
• Candela
• Lumens
• Website URL’s

While the price of the PocketLD application seems a bit high, it does offer the ability to check many things with out the need to go back to manufacturers product print outs or website.  You can view a quicktime movie of PocketLD offered on Michael Zinman website.  You can also download a PDF of the complete library that comes with the application to see what exactly is offered.

The PocketLD is only available in the English language and requires the 2.0 iPhone software update through apple.  PocketLD works on both the iPhone and iPod Touch. To purchase PocketLD, visit iTunes.

To learn more about the PocketLD application or any of the other iPhone applications that Michael Zinman had developed, visit www.lightingiphoneapps.com

Robe: DigitalSpot 7000DT & 3000DT

Robe Lighting introduced two new lighting fixtures at LDI this year in Las Vegas, the DigialSpot 7000DT and the DigitalSpot 3000DT.  Both of these fixtures are Digital projection luminaries that not only project video images, but function as light instruments.  Robe jump head first into the digital projection market with these fixtures and touted at their booth at LDI that digital projection is the way of the future and is here and ready.

DigitalSpot 3000DT

Robe’s DigitalSpot 300DT is their first Digital Moving Light Projector that combines their REDWash (Robe Emitted Diodes) LED module and Digital Projector to create a fixture that is able not only to wash with a large amount of color choices, but also use projections.  The 3000DT emits 2.700 Ansi lumens from a single 200W projection lamp with a contrast ratio of 2,000:1.  The lamp is rated at 4,000 lamp hours and has an aspect ratio of 4:3 with an XGA resolution of 1,024×768 and can produce a full 16.7 million color palette. The DigitalSpot 3000DT in a single Road Case retails for $19,900. Learn more about the DigitalSpot 3000DT visit the product page at www.robelighting.com

DigitalSpot 7000DT

The DigitalSpot 7000DT is the second offering from Robe Lighting and offers a high output in lumens for digital projections.  The 7000DT uses a 330W lamp and emit 6,500 ANSI lumens with a contrast ratio of 2,000:1.  Each of the two LED modules use 48 Luxeon Rebel RDBW LED’s.

The 7000DT offers both DVI and SDI input/outputs to make getting video in and out of the fixture easy and efficiently with out having to worry about different connector or video signal requirements.

The 7000DT also offers web access through the fixture to provide total control and configuration of the fixture with user library management.  To learn more about the DigitalSpot 700DT, visit the product page at www.robelighting.com.

Both fixtures offer some of the standard features such as:

• 5″ TFT LCD display & Robe navigation system
• Communication with active RDM running ROBE RDMNet
• Pan movement range of 530°
• Tilt movement range of 280°
• 16 bit movement resolution
• DMX data in/out, locking 3-pin & 5-pin XLR
• 2 USB 2.0 connectors
• ArtNet: RJ45
• 4 Digital Gobo Layers for Image and Video Control
• Picture Merging effect in the field of up to 8×8 segments
• Projection onto spherical surfaces, cylindrical surfaces and angular screens
• Layer Media Control Modes (Copy, Add, Subtract, Multi, Minimum and Maximum)
• Framing Shutter Effect for creating action scripts for Images or Videos
• Digital Iris effect + 160 Masking effects
• Full digital keystone correction facilities
• Digital Strobe effect
• CMY Image and Video Colour Mixing, plus CTC (Colour Temperature Correction)
• PC or Laptop VGA or S-Video input for presentations
• Composite video or S-Video input for the onboard Graphics Engine
• DVI Input, SDI Input/output for professional Graphics Engine II
• 2 Effects Engines per Layer
• Effect synchronization
• Gobo (Image) Control Modes

Robe: DreamBox

Robe Lighting announced a new product to their digital media product light at LDI this year in Las Vegas called the DreamBox.  To be more precise, the DreamBox was truely introduced to the lighting world this year at the PLASA show in the UK.

The DreamBox is a multi-functional tool box with 2 DMX ports and one USB port. This unit communicates with a PC or Laptop via USB. The DreamBox provides fixture software updates and with additional ROBE RDM-network software provides RDM (Remote Device Management) functionality. The DreamBox supports RDM – new control protocol featuring AutoPatch and Fixture Status Monitoring. The DreamBox can be used in combination with Robe Media Fusion software as DMX input from any DMX console.

Features:

• Supported Operating Systems, Windows, 98, ME, 2K, XP, Vista, Server 2003, Linux
• No extra power supply needed
• Galvanic isolation of 1kV between DMX input and USB
• USB/DMX converter
• RDM communication protocol
• Ability to update fixture software
• DMX data in/out: 5-pin XLR
• USB 2.0
• Rugged aluminum housing
• 54mm (2.12″) x 86mm (3.38″) x 108mm (4.25″)
• Weight: 0.3kg (10.5oz)

The DreamBox is relatively attractive at a nice price point of $995 retail. To learn more about the Robe DreamBox or any of the other products that Robe makes, visit their website at www.robelighting.com

Elektralite LXE 700 Wash and Profile

Elektralite was showing off some of their latest products at LDI this year in Las Vegas at the Group One Limited booth. The two newest products form Elekralite is the LXE 700 Wash and Profile units.  The LXE 700 series of moving lights from Elekrtalite are huge step for them as these are the largest fixtures that they have produced.

Both Wash and Profile offer these features:

• HSD 700 Lamp (7000ºK, 3000 hours)
• Pan/Tilt, 8 or 16 bit control
• Electronic ballast
• External Lamp Control
• Super quite cooling
• Strobe and shutter effects
• Programmed effects
• Electronic Display
• Sound Activation

LXE 700 Profile

• Stepped beam angles, 24º, 28º and 35º
• Zoom, between fixed angles
• Frost Filter
• Full Dimming (0 ~ 100%)
• 7 color + open White Wheel
• Full CMY Mixing
• 2 rotating bo-directional gobo wheels
• 12 total gobo’s
• 16 bit fine positioning
• 3 facet rotating prism
• Retail: $ 5,499.00
• Click Here for more information

LXE 700 Wash

• Beam Angles: Linear 7º ~ 28º
• Elecronic zoom with wide angle lens
• Full Dimming (0 ~ 100%)
• 1 rotating bi-directional color wheel
• 7 colors + open white
• Full CMY mixing
• Full beam effects
• Beam shaper
• Frost Filter
• Retail: $ 4,499.00
• Click here for more information

What sets these two fixtures apart from the rest of the field is their price point.  Similar fixtures are running almost double the retail price of either the wash or profile unit.  To learn more about either fixture or any other product made my elektralite, visit www.myelektralite.com.

To request mor einformation on their products, or to locate a dealer near you, click here.

GAM Products: 24 New Metal Gobo’s

Great American Products (GAM) announced at LDI 2008 in Las Vegas 24 new standard metal gobo’s to there product line.  All of the new gobo’s are offered in the standard A (75mm) or B (64.5mm) size.  While we are not definate, most of these new gobo’s should be offered in M (49.5mm) size as well.

To see a larger image of the new gobo’s, click the image to the right or visit gamonline.com to see an even closer view of the individual gobo’s.

To learn more about the new gobo’s or any other product that GAM offers, visit their website, www.gamonline.com or visit the dealer locator also on their website.

All of these new gobo’ and GAM’s other 300+ standard metal gobo’s retail for $12.95 each.

The Light Source: Mega-Folder

The Light Source added a new hanging hardware item to their line up this year at LDI in Las Vegas called the Mega-Folder.  The Mega-Folder is designed to fit almost any moving yoke light fixture.  The shear geniuos about about this hardware is the ability for the clamps to lay flat against the fixture for easy storage in a road case.  This eliminates the need to remove the pipe clamps in most cases to store the lighting fixture.

The Mega-Folder is designed to work in pairs as most moving yoke fixtures require two points of attachment to truss and/or pipes.  The Mega-Folder has a safe vertical operating load strength of 400lbs (182kg). The Mega-Folder attached os the fixtures with a 3/4″ bolt or a quarter turn camlock which is also used on the omega brackets.  A single Mega-Folder weights in at 2.4lbs (1kg) and comes in Anodized Black or Aluminum Finish.

To find out more information about the Mega-Folder visit The Light Sources website at www.thelightsource.com or find a local Light Source Dealer here to get a price and to purchase any of the The Light Sources fine products.

LDI 2008: Photos on Flickr

We are still compiling all the latest and greatest products announced and released at LDI this year.  While you patiently wait for us to get things organized, we have been looking around Flickr for photos attendee’s have taken on the show floor.

The first set that we have found are by user Steven Truitt or aka, cookwanted on flicker.

Disclaimer: The image to the left and all images or video’s linked or posted here on the property of others and NOT isquint.net.

The image to the left is one of 13 that Steven took while on the show floor at LDI.  It is a Bobblehead of Owner and CEO of Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC), Fred Foster.  One question, were can you get one of these?!?!  I sure the fine folks at Strand Lighting would have some fun with it!
Steven also took some short videos while on the show floor on some of the latest products on the floor.  Check out his VidoStream also on flickr.

Have some photos or news from LDI this year?  Send it over to us and we’ll make sure to post it.

LDI 2008: Come And Gone…Thoughts?

The LDI 2008 show in Las Vegas has come and gone.  A lot of things are crammed into three days on the Expo floor.  There were a bunch of new products announced, released and hinted at.  We are still in the process to putting all of this things into one coherent listing for easy review.

In the mean time, did you attend?  Find anything worth mentioning?  Let us know.

Count Down To LDI 2008

With LDI opening up right around the corner at the Las Vegas Convention Center, we have put together a listing of Booths to see with some of the latest and greatest product to come out on the market.  While this is not a complete listing, look for things missed during and after the show.

• SeaCahnger 2704 – SeaChanger ColorBUG, SeaChanger White Wash, SeaChanger Nemo
• Lex Products 868 – LIVE Multi Cable Tester, Portable Dimmers, 3 Phase 3fer
• Altman Lighting 1328 – New Catalog, New LED products
• Doug Fleenor Design 656 – Wireless LED Power Supply, Dr. DMX
• Le Maitre 3022 – Confetti Xtreme
• PRG 821 – Bad Boy Spot Luminaire
• Lee Filters 734 – 8 New Gel Colors
• City Theatrical 1151 – Lightwright 5, New Source 4 Color Frame
• Times Square Lights 1849 – Sunset Strip, Broadway Cyc
• Element Labs 450 – Cobra
• Kobold by Bron 3427 – DE200 & DE400 for Source 4
• Pathway Connectivity 2307 – Pathport Touring Node
• Osram Sylvania 1164 – BTH lamp
• BCI 1922 – Wireless DMX Pocket Console
• A.C.T. Lighting 1615 – GrandMa 2

To help navigate the show floor, make sure to download and print a copy of the LDI Show Floor.  Also, if you have an iPhone, make sure to access the Offical LDI Web App for live coverage and booth locations.

Looking Towards LDI: SeaChanger’s Latest Products

SeaChanger, the makes of the Dichroic CMY color mixing engine for the Source 4 are planning on announcing three new products at LDI in Las Vegas on October 24 – 26.  The first product has origins in the core basics of the mother company of SeaChanger, Ocean Optics, called the ColorBUG.

The ColorBUG is an ingenious, hand held wireless device for testing color and luminance in theatrical, studio and architectural applications.  Perfect for lighting designers, technicians and production personnel, ColorBUG is a the pocket-sized marvel that works wirelessly with the iPhone and iPod touch to determine CIE color values and luminance easily and quickly.  There’s simply nothing more convenient or clever for helping you monitor color and lighting in virtually any environment.

The next product SeaChanger plans to announce at LDI this year is the SeaChanger White Wash.  Just like it’s brother, the SeaChanger Extreme Green, The White was uses ETC Source 4 Ellipsoidal as the foundation of the light.

The SeaChanger White Wash is the zoomable, soft-edged solution for stunning white light.You can manually adjust focal length of the lens to create wash areas from 20-70 FOV.  This whie light changer turns your ETC Source Four reflector housing into a wash light that provides soft illumination for theatrical, worship and architectural applications.  [The] SeaChanger White Wash is easily upgradable to [the] SeaChanger Color Wash in minutes.  Installation is quick and efficient.

For years SeaChanger has heard for industry professionals that they would love to use the SeaChanger Extreme Green out side for concert and other events.  SeaChanger has anwsered that call with their latest product, the SeaChanger Nemo.

The SeaChanger Nemo is ideal for both indoor and outdoor lighting becasue of its resistance to the elements and carefree operation.  Nemo reduces enery costs with a solid state, energy efficient LIFI plasma source that reduces consumption and heat load.  this new class of high intensity light source brings full spectrum and dimming for both general and specialty lighting applications.  Nemo’s LIFI design offers a longer life with up to 15,000 hours of lamp time — ideal for hard to reach installations.  The Nemo’s broad spectrum high color temperature output delivers 15,000 lumens for bolder blues and richer reds.  Its rugged design is ideal for theme parks, night clubs, building illumination and all general outdoor events where weather resistance and durability are critical.  The SeaChanger Nemo utilizes the ETC Source Four front barre housing.

See see all of SeaChangers latest products and the original SeaChanger Extreme Green and Wash fixture at LDI in Las Veags at the Las Vegas Convention Center on October 24 – 26.  Stop by the SeaChanger booth, 2704.

Looking Towards LDI: Lex Products Multi Cable Tester

Lex Products, the provers of high quality power and data distribution products will be announcing and release a new product to the power tester line up called the LIVE Multi-Cable Tester.  The tester is geared towards the production and rental market with in the entertainment industry.

The LSC 6Circuit Live Multi-Cable Tester is the first portable 19-pin tester that tests and diagnoses cabling problems while the cable is still installed.  Unlike conventional 19-pin testers which plugs directly into theend of any energized, dimmed or undimmed six-circuit cable.

Dimensions: 5.5″L (with connector) x 2.47″w x 2.95″h

Rating: 120/240VAC

Features & Benefits:

• Test LIVE 120VAC 19 pin cables and connectors
• Verifies power on each of the circuits
• Diagnoses both broken and swapped wires and pins
• Provides 3 diagonostic LED’s for each circuit, similar to popular electrician’s single-cucuit testers
• Ultrabright LED’s can be used as a temporary worklight in tight and dark spaces above or around stages
• Can confirm power on a moving -light 208VAC multicable
• Extremely convenient, compact and easy to use
• Durable rubber construction… a great addition to any tech tool kit

Lex Products will have demo units of the LIVE multi-Cable Tester on hand at LDI in Las Vegas October 24-26 in their booth, 868.  Visit www.lexproducts.com or download the product data sheet to learn more about the LIVE Multi-Cable Tester.

Additional Notes: Lex Products just recently updated their website with a totally new and user friendly layout as part of the kick off for LDI in Las Vegas.  Visit Lex Products new website at www.lexproducts.com.