Apollo's new color mixing scroller!

[derekleffew]

Apollo has, finally, introduced the MXR, "a two-string gel color mixer with a color selection and frame sequence designed to maximize useful colors," according to the January 2008 issue of Stage Directions. It's not yet on Apollo's website, but I'm sure our friend Kelite will be glad to let us know all about it after the holidays. I haven't been this excited about a color scroller since, well, the CXI from Wybron. For anyone considering buying scrollers, spend the extra money and get color mixing ones--you won't be sorry.

[STEVETERRY]

Originally Posted by derekleffew

Apollo has, finally, introduced the MXR, "a two-string gel color mixer with a color selection and frame sequence designed to maximize useful colors," according to the January 2008 issue of Stage Directions. It's not yet on Apollo's website, but I'm sure our friend Kelite will be glad to let us know all about it after the holidays. I haven't been this excited about a color scroller since, well, the CXI from Wybron. For anyone considering buying scrollers, spend the extra money and get color mixing ones--you won't be sorry.

Just as Robert Heinlein said: "Tanstaafl". There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.

Some things to be aware of with any two-gelstring mixing color scroller:

1. There is significant light loss when compared to a scroller that creates the same color with a single gel.

2. When fading from color-to-color a vista, one may have to create DMX "waypoints" in the fade to make sure the scroller does not pass through unintended" (ugly) colors in the middle of the fade. The shortest point between two colors in a fade is not always the best looking. This can add to programming time.

Keeping these two points in mind, these are very useful tools.

ST

[Pie4Weebl]

I still love my Morpheus M-Faders!

[Charc]

What page is this on? I apparently now receive Stage Directions.

The multi page spread on High School Musical was a nice touch.

[derekleffew]

The issue after the one featuring HSM, I rec'd it on 12/24. January 2008 issue of Stage Directions, Little Mermaid on the cover, page 12. The article says Apollo exhibited the GelMiser and MXR at LDI in November in Orlando. And Kelite didn't tell us this, or perhaps he was uncomfortable touting his own new products, so I have opened the door for him. In any case, it's nice to know we have a representative of a (the) major manufacturer logging in to Control Booth on Christmas Day *cough*ETC*cough*STEVETERRY*cough*.

[Kelite]

As usual, The ControlBooth brings news and helpful tips to the reader in short order. Yes Derek, we're excited about the MXR Color Mixing Scroller, and I really don't show up here at the forum to push anyone's product line. I do thank you for the kind introduction of this useful device.

And Steve has hit the nail on the head in pointing out the inherent drawback of color mixing. Whether gel or dichroic media (short of a fixed color wheel with desired colors side-by-side), the transition to the desired hue will pass though other colors. These colors may be undesirable to you while being highly desirable to the next designer. Ahh.... art. It's that whole 'beauty in the eyes of the beholder' mentality.

Designer foresight is imperative when mixing any color system, allowing the audience to view only the saturations you desire. Fortunately for all of us, dimmers make that a real possibility!

And I hope you and all CB'ers had a joyous time with family and dear friends during this Christmas holiday.

[gafftaper]

For a point of comparison...
A Seachanger cuts the total lumen output of a 26 degree Source 4 with an HPL 750 lamp down from around 20,000 lumens to about 9,500 lumens in White.

[STEVETERRY]

Originally Posted by gafftaper

For a point of comparison...
A Seachanger cuts the total lumen output of a 26 degree Source 4 with an HPL 750 lamp down from around 20,000 lumens to about 9,500 lumens in White.

Errr...Field lumens on a 26 degree with HPL 750W are 13,960.

ST

[derekleffew]

Well, what do you know, STEVETERRY is correct!, according to this pdf. ETC seems to have revised all spec sheets for the Source Four™, as of 12/2007, so time to re-download, again. SteveT, is this revision gonna affect my Photometric Spreadsheet?

Gafftaper and/or the SeaChanger folks, were apparently confusing "initial lumens" with "field lumens."

Edit: SeaChanger Specs site says: "White light output: 9,500 lumens total system output (SeaChanger +26° Source Four with 750 W HPL lamp)" Shame on SeaChanger for not specifying "field lumens" (I hope!) 68% [9500/13960] of the light is more acceptable than 43% [9500/21900].

[icewolf08]

Originally Posted by gafftaper

For a point of comparison...
A Seachanger cuts the total lumen output of a 26 degree Source 4 with an HPL 750 lamp down from around 20,000 lumens to about 9,500 lumens in White.

But theoretically in a clear frame in the scroller you should loose virtually no output.