Strand HQ Tour

[Esoteric]

Hey guys so I just got back from an amazing tour of the Strand/Vari-Lite headquarters in Dallas, TX and I just wanted to share with you guys some of what I saw.

Let me say that first of all I am an ETC guy. I have been since the Source4. I love Sensor and Smartrack dimmers, and I install them all the time. But I have also always been a huge Vari-Lite fan.

I have hated all things Strand (except their Fresnsels) for some time. It was low quality, and there was really no customer support on anything.

Well, let me start by saying that seeing some of the new products just blew me away. This was my first in depth exposure to the Palette series of lighting desks. Lets say that I have a new favorite in the category between basic computer control and high end touring boards. I love MagicQ as a system for those that must start small (under $5k) and want a lot of expansion. For those with no paid staff and many volunteers I like the Vista Series (still the most easy to use console out there). And if you can afford it, the GrandMA is for my money the best touring/moving light console out there (although the Hogs will always hold a special place in my heart). But, in the $3k-$15k range, or for strictly theater desks (not going to be moving, deadlines aren't as tight, etc) I am a convert to the Palette series. They are available in so many configurations, the software is very intuitive, there are very few parts to have to replace, and service is so easy (lift the hood and everything is easily accessible), add to that they are slick looking (I know, I know, not an important thing, but we should get to be a little vain about our consoles), and easy to make their way around and I am sold. For me it easily displaces the Eos series of consoles. Even advanced functions are very easy to learn (and did I mention the ease of service?).

Well after admiring the Palette we were shown what it could do. In a demo with the new PL-1 and VLX3 series lights (which I will get to in a moment) someone was able to go from 0 knowledge to running the demo in under 5 minutes (with some help from Jaime of course). There is also the flexibility. The Palette VL for example is available in 16, 32, and 64 fader configurations with channels available in 1 universe upgrades (you get a new key with each upgrade that unlocks up to 8 universes of control).

Now lets talk about fixtures. If you have not seen the greatness of the VLX you should check it out. I know it is out of the price range of all but the largest productions (at over $10k each), but you just need to see this thing. I saw it almost two years ago now, and fell in love. It uses a crystal prism to focus the light from the 90W RGBW source and mix it before it hits the lens so that you get a completely even, color mixed field. No multi-colored shadows. Completely, perfectly mixed colors. It can do color correction from 3000K to 8000K and any color imaginable. In addition the high CRI ensures that colors are rendered true down to infantismal parts of the dimming curve (which is also completely smooth from 0-100%). In addition the whole unit uses only 3 motors. Pan, tilt, and zoom. That is all. Now the light is generated from 7 90W tubes. That means there are multiple shadows, but they are all the same color. And at the 70'+ throws these units are meant for that is not generally an issue.

Like I said, most of us can't do $10k per unit, but what Vari-Lite has done in using the tubes is developed a technology that they can incorporate into other lights. For example, at about 1/2 the price is the VLX3. It is a fresnel type wash unit (it even looks like an 8" fresnel), that uses 3 of the tubes from the VLX. A very, very powerful unit. From a 40 foot throw it still looks nuclear. It is not a moving light, but it has all the same color mixing properties of the VLX and it has a motorized zoom. The field diameter has a massive range, and even running wide open, it still has plenty of punch from 40' or so. This is a great unit and has another awesome feature. Now I know most churches use all volunteer staffs. But for those who have to pay for focus labor (and do any real refocus) you can have the unit equipped with pan/tilt motors. This does not make it a moving light (the motors move rather slowly and are not the smoothest motors), but it would allow one person (with an RFU) to do their own focus.

Another great unit I saw that I had not seen before was the PL1. It is an LED spotlight (not to be confused with an ERS, think more like a PC spotlight) that uses a single tube from the VLX. With throws of 20'-40' or so it would be a tremendous light. Again, perfect color mixing, and this time with one source, no multi shadows at all. Now this unit is manual focus and zoom, but with an MSRP of around $1500 it puts the high end LED light in the common budget.

Now all these units are on the cutting edge. For example the PL1 is ethernet only. So you can control it over ethernet or get an RJ45 to DMX converter. The VLX3 has (like most Vari-Lite units) an ethernet plug as well as DMX.

For those of you, like me, convinced that ethernet is the future of lighting control, this is a great feature.

So after a little show and tell we were able to tour the warehouse which included viewing the manufacturing procedure from board to completed unit. I am happy to report that Vari-Lites are indeed, 100% made in America (actually 100% made in Texas if you want to get right down to it). From the circuit boards, wire harnesses, dichoric glass, it is all manufactured (and of course assembled) in Dallas, TX and they are 100% committed to this in the future. In addition each unit is hand assembled, put through rigorous testing, and not shipped if it does not pass. Units are made to order, so the actual warehouse part of the structure is fairly empty. As soon as something comes off the line, it goes out the door.

Then we got to look at their dimming assembly lines. Getting a look inside the C21 and talking to Jaime (the Latin American Sales Rep who did our tour, great guy) this is not just a reworking of the CD80 rack. It is a whole new beast. Built on the backbone of the CD80 even the wire runs were redone and improved. The modules look modern (as opposed to the old CD80 modules) and were very well constructed. With the ability to break up the rack this is ideal for churches and medium sized theaters. In addition the custom made R21 strip dimming system is just a great step in the right direction for when the C21 just won’t do. You can drop plugs in where ever you want and have the distributed system prewired and ready to install. The S21 is on par with the ETC SmartBars.

Unfortunately we were unable to play in the demo room (SMU was conducting their class in there) but it reminded me of our moving light lab in college and brought back some…. Memories. Finally we got to tour the offices and see the call center for tech support (located in Dallas, TX) and the training room. We also got to talk to the R&D guys about upcoming products including a line of LED units in the $300-$500 range (look for QTR1 2012).

Anyway, while I am not becoming a “Strand guy” by any means, I am adding their technology to my repertoire.

They are not your daddies Strand.

[Gracetech]

The thing i like about Strand(AKA Philips) is that they have bought some great companies Vari-Lite, Selecon, and Entertainment Technologies. Got 40 Selecon fixtures and a load of ET dimmers going into our new space in a few weeks. You'll have to stop by and check it out.

Nice write up BTW.

crt

[Esoteric]

Yeah, my client is going with a 96 channel C21 rack with IGBT dimmers. I was not impressed with the Selecon however. Too much plastic. I still prefer the Source4.

Mike

[Gracetech]

You ought to have a shoot out between the Selecon's and Source4's, you may be surprised. I'm using the Acclaims and they are every bit as good as Source4's, just a little smoother on the beam though. It's not that you can't make the source4's smooth it just takes alot longer.

I do still like Source4's though.

crt

[mstone133]

I talked to the Strand rep at WFX and again at the USITT expo for a long time about these lights. I was quoted a list price of $2,200 (which matches the prices I've seen online) instead of $1,500. I am interested in what they gave you as the list price on the VLX-3 (Selecon PL-3? I didn't find a VLX-3 on the website)...I was quoted over $5K.

The DMX connections on the fixture are RJ45's versus the standard 5-pin DMX, is that all that is meant by "ethernet based"?

Interestingly, the PL1 is not listed on the Strand website as a "theatrical" fixture; you will find it under the "display" lighting heading. It's bigger brother (the PL-3) is listed under the theatrical heading and has the standard 5 pin DMX connectors as well as the RJ45 connections.

[Esoteric]

Sorry, I meant PL3. You are correct MSRP is indeed $2500 for the PL1 but they did mention Street Price being $1500-$2000. No one knows right now.

Strand will not market these as theatrical fixtures but after seeing them in action I have no doubt that it works as a theatrical fixture.

My Rep kept calling it a VLX3. Also they will usually only quote MSRP to end users. There is no MAP on it yet. That is why I am saying this is only scuttlebutt at the moment (or if I didnt I should have). I heard MSRP on the PL3 at $5500. Hopefully Street around $4k.

No that is not all that is meant. You can use vision.net (an Ethernet protocol) to run the units or program them (you can even set them to run programs based on an internal clock). Vari-lite is future roofing themselves. In addition it will just be a BIOS flash to update to any future Ethernet based protocol that might get adopted as standard.

The PL3 can also be fitted with pan and tilt motors for remote focusing.

Mike

[millamber]

To be clear, the PL-3 and the VLX3 are not the same fixture, although they use the same optical train. The VLX-3 is a 3 cell version of the VLX and is a fully capable moving wash light (at 23 DMX channels). The PL-3 is a Selecon static focus fixture with an optional pan/tilt motor for remote focusing.

The PL-1 is an ideal fixture for museums and track light applications. It is marketed more as an architectural fixture. I thought the color was great on it, but I was not too impressed with the fixture as a whole; plastic housing, screw in focusing, and an elongated barrel turned me off.

I have been installing the C-21 since it was first released. It is not a bad unit, built on the CD-80 platform. The onboard adjustment can be difficult to navigate sometimes, and changing dimmer module types in the processor is not as intuitive as the Sensor rack, but they are solid units. You can even put the bottom section into older CD80 racks as an upgrade kit. That being said I am not a fan of Vision.net at all.

Strand has gotten much better since they were bought by Philips (via Genlyte controls) and they do actually answer the phone these days. But, as with anything these days, caveat emptor.

[Esoteric]

The PL1 is certainly not the greatest unit for touring applications. The unit itself leaves something to be desired. But for any type of installs (including theater rep plots) at that price point you aren't going to get anything better.

Yeah. We got the PL3 demo, but our Rep kept calling it the VL3. But he had a long, hard day so we gave him a break.

Like I said, not a Strand convert or anything. But I will actually sell their products now.

Mike

[Esoteric]

Also why are you not a fan of vision.net? Seemed solid to me.

Mike

[Esoteric]

Just got the final work on the PL1 pricing. MSRP is $2200, actual price is well below that.

Mike