Automated Fixtures Recommendations for Robotic lighting

lazor

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We were just approved $17,000 for new robotic lighting. We have 6 VL2500 spot units in our large 1000 seat auditorium. My boss wants to know what to buy for our Arena/Black Box theater. Room is 44' x 44'. The grid sits at 14'2". I think buying two additional VL2500s would be too much for that space. I'm wondering what anyone would recommend?
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I've used VL1000TS fixtures at trim near that and they worked out nice. You probably want to be looking in the 575 watt or even 250 watt range of fixtures. Do you have an adequate controller?
 
Since it looks like the double post got deleted and my response was in there, Clay Paky Alpha Spot 300 HPE. Full effects package in a smaller fixture with a 300W lamp.
 
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One big question is, do you light the lights you have or do you want something different? Next question: do you need/want the punch of an arc lamp fixture or do you need/want the blendability of a tungsten/halogen fixture. I would seriously consider the VL1000 line as mentioned before. Since you gan get them in T/H versions it makes them very blendable and you get a lot of nice features with them. If you need punchy arc lamp output and you like the VL fixtures you have, then stick with the VL line. You can to the VL1000A or the VL2500 like you already own. Doing this give you backups (as long as you aren't using all of them at the same time) which is a goo thing.

For theatrical use, at this point in time I would not get any fixture that does not have CMY color mixing, so the Martin Mac 500, 550, and 575 don't make the grade. If you wanted to go Martin, I would look at the Mac 700 and up. I would also look at the Robe and Clay Paky line, I have been hearing lots of good things about both recently.
 
I have to agree with Icewolf on everything he said. CMY for theatre is a huge bonus. Also make sure if you are getting spot type fixtures to get an iris and/or shuttering.

As for what to get, I am a big fan of keeping thing uniform. When I do a show, its all VL, Martin, Elation, High End, etc. Reason for this is so all the fixtures act the same, color mix the same, same gobos, same optics, etc. If you are happy with VL, which it seems you are, stick with them unless you have a reason/want to change.

Next question would be do the theatres share fixtures? Reason for asking is you could maybe look into 4 VL500s. They would complment the VL2500s nicely and should be able to grab 4 for 17 grand. VL1000s would also work nicely, would only be able to get two, 3 if you are lucky depending on type.

If you are feeling the need to branch out, look at Clay Paky, Coemar, Elation, Martin, or Robe.
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I don't really have anything to add in the category of what to get, but I can tell you to stay away from the Chauvet Q line. While they are not bad low-budget fixtures, they have a very loud fan noise and a tendancy to go through lamps rather rapidly, which, at $120 a lamp, gets a bit pricy.
 
Thanks for all the recommendations.
To answer a few questions:
Pie4Weebl: Do you have an adequate controller?
Right now all we have in that space is the ETC Express. Not great for Robotic lighting but I can make it work.
icewolf08: One big question is, do you light the lights you have or do you want something different? Next question: do you need/want the punch of an arc lamp fixture or do you need/want the blendability of a tungsten/halogen fixture.
I am happy with the VL2500 spots that I have now, but I feel they would be too much for the smaller space. I don't think I need the large bunch of an arc lamp and I love the idea of being able to blend these fixtures with conventional fixtures.
SerraAva:Next question would be do the theatres share fixtures?
There is the possibility of the two theatres sharing these fixtures. And I have to say if there is a possibility of getting four VL500s that would go well with the VL2500s than I need to take a good look at them. I had figured that I would only be able to buy 2 fixtures but four would be great.

Thanks again everyone for recommendations and I'll continue to take all the advise I can get.
 
Just be aware that VL500s are wash lights, not spots like the VL2500s you already have. Reason I asked if there was sharing, so you could still grab a couple of VL2500s from the arch theatre and the VL500s for the black box. Then use all 6 VL2500s and 4 VL500s in the arch theatre.

You should maybe be able to swing the VL500 for around 4 grand a piece. Cheapest on the net I have seen is $4500.
 
If going elation, 4x Design Spot 575 for your budget - I think that the zoom would be more of a benefit in a theatre situation than having a 5th fixture.
 
Sorry Bill, but have to agree with Soundlight. 4 DS575s over 5 DS300s any day of the week. More punch with a 575w lamp and more features, 2 rotating gobo wheels vs 1 static and 1 rotating, an animation wheel, and a 15-30 degree zoom vs 22 fixed for about $700 more.

Just ordered a bunch of DS575s and I am extremely happy with them thus far. They did a 24 hour marathon right out of the box with the lamp struck and no issues what-so-ever.
 
Valid points to be sure. I felt using 575's with a 14' trim a bit overkill.

My main contention would be that a 22 degree beam angle would be useless at that trim in most situations. Having zoom greatly increases the usefulness of the fixture. Especially since it doesn't cost much more.
 
Sorry Bill, but have to agree with Soundlight. 4 DS575s over 5 DS300s any day of the week. More punch with a 575w lamp and more features, 2 rotating gobo wheels vs 1 static and 1 rotating, an animation wheel, and a 15-30 degree zoom vs 22 fixed for about $700 more.

Just ordered a bunch of DS575s and I am extremely happy with them thus far. They did a 24 hour marathon right out of the box with the lamp struck and no issues what-so-ever.
If I was to get the elation fixtures. And I wanted to use them with my VL2500s in the proscenium theatre, how would they look together?
 
I just want to throw out the notion that maybe you would be well served to use two grand of your budget to pick up a hogPC widget so you can get the most bang for your buck from the movers.
 
What do you think of...

How do people feel about the Elation DS 575s fixtures?
I'm not very familiar with them and haven't heard much about them.
I heard I could probably get 4 for $1700 for a 42' x 42' black box arena theater with a 11'2" grid. Playing space is 26'10" x 26'10"
They would be used for effects and specials.

Just curious what people's opinions are.

Also I would be using them with an ETC Express 24/48. Not much but it's what I got, and the money has to be used for Robotic lighting not a new board. Don't you just love public schools.
 
Re: What do you think of...

I have been using the Elation PS 700s since they were released, and they have performed very well. I have not worked with the DS 575s, but they seem to be nice fixtures, and possibly even designed better than the PS 700s. I think that you would probably be happy with them.

I do have an interesting thing to think about though. You say that these will be used in a school. Is there a person (it could be you) who is going to take care of these fixtures? Moving lights require a significant amount of care and maintenance, which incurs a lot of operational expenses over time. Consider that you have to relamp the fixtures every 750-1000 hours at $100+ per lamp. Depending on the frequency of use, this could be multiple times per year. Is the school/district prepared to pay for lamps alone over the life of the fixtures, not to mention any other maintenance?

Also consider that you are talking about a black box/arena space. Do you have a lift and personnel that are capable of moving 50+ pound fixtures on a regular basis? Due to the maintenance requirements of moving lights you probably will need to hang and strike them a few times a year to keep them in top shape.

Pleas know that I am not saying that you shouldn't get moving lights. I just want to make sure that you know what you are getting into and that you make the powers that be aware of what they are getting into. the last thing you want is to have 4 $2K fixtures sitting useless because you don't have the money for lamps.
 
Re: What do you think of...

Our venue purchased 6 Elation Power Spot 575's (same lamp I believe) for a 40w x 20h x 30d stage and I'm very impressed with these fixtures. Make sure you register them for warranty if you get them. We ordered a total of 22 Elation moving lights and I've only sent one in for repairs after two years of moderate use. Also, I don't believe ETC provides a "profile" for Elation fixtures which means you'll need to create one.
 

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