Farmer explains the choice, "The touring schedule was very tight so fixtures needed to be reliable, have numerous functions, offer the maximum creative options and work as we expect, as time to redesign the fixture layout or replace defective units simply wasn't available. Small footprint was essential for the applications involved and we needed power and saturation too."
Farmer's deputy LD, Niall Hannell, adds, "PixelRange is just so reliable, they've been around for a while, they're proven, they work, and they always work - I've never seen one go wrong, I've never had a problem with them ever."
By its nature the Britain's Got Talent Tour showcased a wide variety of acts, from singers and groups of all ages and styles, through a dancing dog act and impressionists, to the TV show's finalist, gymnastic troupe Spelbound. PixelRange LED lighting played a major part in the theming of each act.
The set comprised PixelLine 1044 high intensity LED units - positioned top and bottom of the video banners flanking the main screen to ensure floor to ceiling colour - and the new generation PixelPars. "The PixelLines and PixelPars have made the show very simple. They're so fast to respond we've included lots of blackouts to VT as it's an effective look," says Farmer.
"We've been able to create a lot of different looks with the overlapping effects on the PixelLine because the effects overlay what the lights are outputting anyway. It was great for acts like Twist and Pulse. You can have set colours - like the Loony Tunes theme - and just add in the effects, generating a dynamic stage with added movement."
(Jim Evans)