The Magicpanel-R is comprised of a 6x6 matrix that boasts continuous double rotation on two axes while generating clearly defined beams. Each fixture offers 11500 lumen and a centre beam intensity of 1,350,000 candela, but only consumes 450 watts. The result is a stunning look twice the size of a 45mm optic with 30 percent less power consumption.
Lighting designer (and recently nominated CMA SRO lighting director of the year) Chris Shrom is utilizing 28 Magicpanel-R panels on Little Big Town's summer tour in a four column, seven row set up that can be adjusted on gripple ladders for lower trim on shows where the weight needs to be reduced in small or medium venues.
"They're absolutely a lot of fun," said Shrom of the Magicpanel-R. "I started using different patterns on them for washes, and it translated really, really well. If you don't like the square boxy look, you can turn off the corner LEDs and make it look round. You can spell out words, letters, numbers, or even run video across them. It is a really versatile light."
Shrom uses the panels in their extended mode, and while that is 160 channels a piece, he is able to control each pixel independently, giving him plenty of versatility. He also has the panels pixel mapped on a hippo media server backstage, which is also driving the LED wall. Using the pixel mapping option, Shrom can simply tell the hippo to run the appropriate video for a song, and all the processing is taken off his desk.
Shrom controls the fixtures using 12 universes of Artnet driven by the Jands Vista L5. "At 28 fixtures, having 36 LEDs a piece, the Vista sees just the magic panels as 1036 fixtures. It can get a little busy at times."
Additional equipment includes VL 3000s, GRNLite PARs and GRNLite washes. Shrom placed VL3500s upstage for additional colour and punch. "I don't think I had realized how well they would interact with our blow-through LED wall, which sits downstage of the washes," Shrom said. "I love the look of having lighting in that usually absent space between the stage deck and the truss in the air, large amounts dead space frustrates me to a degree, and for this tour I was able to design a lighting rig that filled a lot of it."
(Jim Evans)
