Lighting Manufacturers

[ebailey]

Hi everyone,

I'm doing a lighting assignment at college where I need to compare different manufacturers of control desks, lights, dimmers etc. I can't seem to find any good sources on Google so I was just wondering if anyone could tell me the post popular manufacturers used in the industry. Thanks

 

[DaveySimps]

Welcome to Control Booth! I have moved this to the Lighting Forum so it is posted in the appropriate place.

This can turn out to be a huge list, so you will probably want to give us a bit more info as to what you are comparing. I shall start off the list with the following manufactureres (in no particular order) ETC, Strand, Leprechaun, High End Systems, Jands, PathPort, MA Lighting, Apollo, Selecon, Vari-Lite, Martin, L&E, Altman, Elation, Clay Packy, Robe, Avolites, Chamsys, Dough Fleenor Design, ...

~Dave

 

[derekleffew]

... Leprechaun, ... Clay Packy,

Leprecon, Clay Paky. Add Leviton.

Perhaps the most complete list can be found by looking at the exhibitor's list for the industry's largest trade show: http://www.ldishow.com/ldi13/Public/ExhibitorList.aspx?ID=1043796 . Not necessarily complete, as not all manufacturers choose to exhibit at this particular tradeshow.

If looking only at full-range manufacturers for theatre equipment, I believe the only three to offer consoles, luminaires, and dimmers are ETC, Strand, and Leviton. Lightronics, Chauvet, and Elation/American DJ also offer all three, but these would not be recommended for most theatre applications.

 

[ebailey]

Welcome to Control Booth! I have moved this to the Lighting Forum so it is posted in the appropriate place.

This can turn out to be a huge list, so you will probably want to give us a bit more info as to what you are comparing. I shall start off the list with the following manufactureres (in no particular order) ETC, Strand, Leprechaun, High End Systems, Jands, PathPort, MA Lighting, Apollo, Selecon, Vari-Lite, Martin, L&E, Altman, Elation, Clay Packy, Robe, Avolites, Chamsys, Dough Fleenor Design, ...

~Dave

Thanks for the reply! I basically need to compare the pros and cons of a few manufactures and to explain why different companies would use one manufacturer over another

 

[ebailey]

Leprecon, Clay Paky. Add Leviton.

Perhaps the most complete list can be found by looking at the exhibitor's list for the industry's largest trade show: http://www.ldishow.com/ldi13/Public/ExhibitorList.aspx?ID=1043796 . Not necessarily complete, as not all manufacturers choose to exhibit at this particular tradeshow.

If looking only at full-range manufacturers for theatre equipment, I believe the only three to offer consoles, luminaires, and dimmers are ETC, Strand, and Leviton. Lightronics, Chauvet, and Elation/American DJ also offer all three, but these would not be recommended for most theatre applications.

Thank you that was great help!

 

[DavidNorth]

If looking only at full-range manufacturers for theatre equipment, I believe the only three to offer consoles, luminaires, and dimmers are ETC, Strand, and Leviton. Lightronics, Chauvet, and Elation/American DJ also offer all three, but these would not be recommended for most theatre applications.

Depends on whether we are limited to US or are looking worldwide. If beyond the US, full line manufacturers also include ADB,....well I thought there were more, but it's early on Monday.

If the OP wants to know more about anyone that makes anything, the list is amazingly long. Narrowing it down certainly makes sense.

David

 

[Kelite]

Great question, ebailey- though the ferocity of answers may sound similar to a 'Ford vs Chevy' internet chatroom.
Many manufacturers making many types and qualities of items for a diverse market place. Gear runs the gamut from DJ use to museum installation, and pricing is most often as diverse...

 

[gafftaper]

Are you talking about conventional theater equipment or equipment designed more for the moving light and concert industry. Although some manufacturers try to cross over, those are generally two different lists.

 

[ebailey]

Are you talking about conventional theater equipment or equipment designed more for the moving light and concert industry. Although some manufacturers try to cross over, those are generally two different lists.

Conventional theatre equipment

 

[gafftaper]

For conventional equipment the big two are ETC and Strand. Both make light consoles, dimmers, and fixtures. If you want to look at consoles, fixtures, or dimmers separately there are other brands you should consider, but I don't think any of the other manufacturer makes all three types of products.

 

[derekleffew]

... but I don't think any of the other manufacturers makes all three types of products.

As I said before, Leviton.
.

 

[techieman33]

For conventional equipment the big two are ETC and Strand. Both make light consoles, dimmers, and fixtures. If you want to look at consoles, fixtures, or dimmers separately there are other brands you should consider, but I don't think any of the other manufacturer makes all three types of products.

I don't see that the OP specifically stated they wanted to compare only companies that made lights, dimmers, and consoles. I see no reason to, at this point in time there is no reason to buy a "whole package" from one manufacturer. The industry is standardized enough to be able to pick and chose this or that from nearly any manufacturer and make it all work together.

 

[SteveB]

I don't see that the OP specifically stated they wanted to compare only companies that made lights, dimmers, and consoles. I see no reason to, at this point in time there is no reason to buy a "whole package" from one manufacturer. The industry is standardized enough to be able to pick and chose this or that from nearly any manufacturer and make it all work together.

Not going to one manufacturer of the "package" then results in a lot of work on the part of either the consultant, systems integrator or end user to get all the associated systems to function WELL together, regardless of so-called standardization, which really only applies to DMX, sACN, Artnet and RDM and even then there are lots of pitfalls.

It really helps if the manufacturer of the console, dimmers and power distribution as well as data systems are the same. Lot's of errors get dealt with when the manufacture is on-board and the same company.

 

[gafftaper]

Yeah I forgot Leviton as a maker of all three.

So is the purpose of this research to buy something? As Steve just said, it's a pretty good thing to have your console and dimmers all the same manufacturer. However when it comes to light fixtures, most of us have a mixture of several brands. Some tools are just better for some jobs than others.

 

[Les]

I totally agree with Gafftaper.

I've also never been much for the "one light to rule them all" mentality. We (U.S.) have a few great companies, and I believe we should support as many as possible in any way possible within reason, lest we want to lose our ability to choose manufacturers. This is not me taking a stab at any one company - just thinking out loud in that a little healthy competition is a good thing and we wouldn't want that reason for competition to dissolve. After all, that is what drives innovation.

 

[Zel]

Two cents! The first thing you'll notice is that most manufacturers are going after two markets, Professional and DJ/Club. Some websites like Chauvet (http://www.chauvetlighting.com/) will ask you right up front to click on one or the other while others like Elation (http://www.elationlighting.com/Default.aspx) will let you find the American DJ site (http://www.americandj.com/) on your own. Martin has recently entered the fray with their Rush (http://www.martin.com/frontpage/frontpage.asp?empty=0) series (made in China for Martin)

The two distinctions? Professional is more robust, takes more abuse (touring), is flicker free (for video), less apt to fail and cost more while the DJ side is pretty much the opposite or at least not designed to the same standards. Why? Professionals want the exact piece of equipment for their need (see also the claw http://livedesignonline.com/u2360tour/claw-vitals) Where as DJ's want the latest and greatest wow factor for their gig.

Next you've got philosophical differences on what each manufacturer wants to accomplish. Some use Red Green Blue color mixing while others use Cyan Magenta Yellow. CMY produces the most beautiful colors by far (IMHO) but you can't get red, only burnt orange unless you throw in the red filter. Others use the deepest red, green, blue and white LED's for their units while others, like ETC Sealdor (http://www.etcconnect.com/products.family.aspx?ID=30010), uses different shades of each color for more vivid mixing, BUT they sacrifice power. That is to say if you want a specific red you may only find 2 or 3 LEDs coming on.

It spirals onward from here. Your best bet would be to contact each company, tell them what you are doing and go from there.

 

[ebailey]

Yeah I forgot Leviton as a maker of all three.

So is the purpose of this research to buy something? As Steve just said, it's a pretty good thing to have your console and dimmers all the same manufacturer. However when it comes to light fixtures, most of us have a mixture of several brands. Some tools are just better for some jobs than others.

No, it's not to buy something. In the assignment I have been given I've been asked to compare the different manufacturers of the different equipment but because I'm new to the course I haven't had any work experience so I don't know why some brands would be better than others for different jobs

 

[ebailey]

Many thanks, this is great advise

Two cents! The first thing you'll notice is that most manufacturers are going after two markets, Professional and DJ/Club. Some websites like Chauvet (http://www.chauvetlighting.com/) will ask you right up front to click on one or the other while others like Elation (http://www.elationlighting.com/Default.aspx) will let you find the American DJ site (http://www.americandj.com/) on your own. Martin has recently entered the fray with their Rush (http://www.martin.com/frontpage/frontpage.asp?empty=0) series (made in China for Martin)

The two distinctions? Professional is more robust, takes more abuse (touring), is flicker free (for video), less apt to fail and cost more while the DJ side is pretty much the opposite or at least not designed to the same standards. Why? Professionals want the exact piece of equipment for their need (see also the claw http://livedesignonline.com/u2360tour/claw-vitals) Where as DJ's want the latest and greatest wow factor for their gig.

Next you've got philosophical differences on what each manufacturer wants to accomplish. Some use Red Green Blue color mixing while others use Cyan Magenta Yellow. CMY produces the most beautiful colors by far (IMHO) but you can't get red, only burnt orange unless you throw in the red filter. Others use the deepest red, green, blue and white LED's for their units while others, like ETC Sealdor (http://www.etcconnect.com/products.family.aspx?ID=30010), uses different shades of each color for more vivid mixing, BUT they sacrifice power. That is to say if you want a specific red you may only find 2 or 3 LEDs coming on.

It spirals onward from here. Your best bet would be to contact each company, tell them what you are doing and go from there.

kss

 

[gafftaper]

In that case, and given that your focus is conventional theater lighting. You should research: ETC, Strand, Altman, and Leviton. My guess would be that those four probably make up 90% of the conventional theater lighting equipment sold in the US.

ETC and Strand sell everything and take up the biggest chunk of the market. Leviton sells everything as well but has a smaller chunk of the theater market... although they are huge in architectural stuff. Altman is primarily a lighting fixture dealer with a lot of fixtures out there.

 

[ebailey]

In that case, and given that your focus is conventional theater lighting. You should research: ETC, Strand, Altman, and Leviton. My guess would be that those four probably make up 90% of the conventional theater lighting equipment sold in the US.

ETC and Strand sell everything and take up the biggest chunk of the market. Leviton sells everything as well but has a smaller chunk of the theater market... although they are huge in architectural stuff. Altman is primarily a lighting fixture dealer with a lot of fixtures out there.

Thank you for the help