There are so many new products on the market lately that it's hard to grasp it between the pieces. However, one device caught my attention as we looked closely at its weaker version. We're back to fretting a bit with Elation.
Recently, the bigger brother, oh sorry, stronger brother of the Proteus Hybrid luminaire was presented. It was on the basis of his research that we considered in this article what the IP rating is.
General view
Of course, to make a "bigger" setting just add some "Giga", "Mega", "Super" after the name, or before it, and the name off the top of my head, that's how Proteus Hybrid MAX was born.
It's interesting to note that despite everyone's betting on green and energy efficiency, this unit hasn't changed its light source to LED - just increased the current one. Equipped with a 550W discharge lamp (Philips MSD Platinum FLEX 500), it generates 22k lumens from its 170mm front lens.
What is certainly not MAX is the size relative to its predecessor. That's because the manufacturer has packed more power into a smaller and lighter housing by 3.5kg (total weight 34.5kg) - while increasing the waterproof rating from IP65 to IP66(you can read what that means here). Also of note is the refreshed design of the head base, so we have a slight rebranding as well.
Optics and Colors
As Hybrid is Hybrid, or Spot-Beam-Wash, and as such a stretch, the zoom must be unearthly. In numbers, however, it is not impressive. It lacks to "Wash" from 10°, and its range is 1.8° to 45°. Although, on the other hand, we get a dual frost filter to make up for the "wash" effect. Do I have to write about the motorized Focus? I don't, so I'll write - there is. And, of course, there is also auto-focus, which I know from Elation fixtures and I can say that it is legancy.
Referring to colors, they haven't yet come up with any revolution in discharge devices like Lime did with LED. We get a classic CMY mixing mode, a variable CTO filter and a 16-position color dial.
Effectives and Controls
Where's your hybrid without gobos! There are, classically, one rotating disc with 8 interchangeable compositions, a 16-position static disc, a double animation disc. Well, and for dessert we have 4-different prisms on two dials, it's important that you don't try to turn on all four at once.
As for movement, it moves, sort of differently. In tilt we have 540°/630° available, while in panorama it is 250°. As an additional feature, we also get infinite 360° rotation in panorama. Presumably this is mainly applicable to the "Sky Motion" system, which we'll talk about shortly.
The Proteus Hybrid MAX, like all Elation fixtures, has a suite of control options, namely classic analog DMX, more modern Art.-Net, sACN and RDM. The whole thing is done in 32 or 43 channel mode.
Sky Motion
Each device can also be controlled from the device panel, but here we can find a little more. We are talking about the "Sky Motion" system, which is supposed to mimic the effect of a "searchlight" without the use of external controllers. I won't describe how it looks in practice, but I can show you. So I refer you to the video, because the system has already been used in Proteus Excalibur.
And if you're at work and can't watch with your voice, I'll translate the producer's note for you:
"Multiple devices can be linked together, and by simply assigning IDs, the device provides instant access to a variety of ready-made effects. They can be easily adjusted in size, speed and color directly from the display."
That is, such built-in programs for the searchlight effect, with the ability to edit their size from the head level.
Summary
You can't accuse us of not getting anything new with another setting from an American manufacturer. On paper, it really looks like a reliable multi-tasker that won't languish in storage and will find its place at any kind of event.
So to answer the question posed in the subtitle - from a general point of view, Elation has managed to do something fresh again. Only is the path of trying to create the perfect all-in-one device the right one? That's already left for you to think about.
Finally, I'll just add a news item from Elation. I just found by chance that under each new device you will get a downloadable library for ONYX, GrandMA2 and a GDTF file. ChamSys is missing - if anything, I can show you around!
You will find more on the manufacturer's website, of course!
Producer: Elation ProfessionalDistributor: P.S. Theater.
