Mar 25 2010
Digital and automated lighting pioneer Barco announced today a broad spectrum of enhancements, upgrades and new products geared towards strengthening the digital lighting and moving luminaire product lines. Using the 2010 Pro Light and Sound expo as the forum, this comprehensive multi-product announcement expands the capabilities of the DL.3 digital light, the Axon Media Server and the DML-1200 digital light, and unveils two brand new products — the SDI-DMX Mixer Pro and the remarkable new “intellaspot XT-1.”
For the DL.3 digital light and the Axon media server, Barco advances the product line’s core capabilities with new version 2.0 software — providing additional media streams, new features and additional creative effects. Included are new digital shutters, improved blending functionality, new innovative diagnostic tools, an increase in the number of available graphic layers (from three to nine), and an overall enhancement that enables more effects to be used simultaneously. In addition, Version 2.0 software also improves legacy DL.2 fixtures with an additional media layer, new effects and new system diagnostics.
Exclusive to the DL.3, each new fixture now ships with an improved color space and a significant increase in brightness. Using a state-of-the-art QuaDrive optical engine, the DL.3 now produces higher luminosity with improved color accuracy and clarity, providing a 20% increase in color space. Exclusive to the Axon media server, each unit now ships with dual HD-SDI inputs as standard. For the DML-1200 digital light, the unit’s latest software upgrade expands the system’s functionality with new configuration features that include settings for high altitude mode, lamp modes, default imagery, shutdown options, and selectable aspect ratios — from 4:3, 16:9, or 5:4. In addition, the software now enables the projector toolset while DMX is connected.
Two new product announcements round out Barco’s new offerings at the 2010 Pro Light and Sound expo. First is the SDI-DMX Mixer Pro, a hybrid switcher that offers users the ability to switch, mix and matrix four video inputs to four video outputs — directly from any DMX lighting controller. Today’s controllers are required to interface with an ever-increasing number of sources and destinations, such as DL.3s, DML-1200s, Axon media servers, cameras, projectors and screens. To ease and simplify the overall control task, the new SDI-DMX Mixer Pro places the power of video switching and crossfades directly into the lighting designer’s hands.
The second and most important product announcement is the brilliant new intellaspot XT-1, an advanced lighting fixture from Barco that’s designed to set a new benchmark in price and performance for mid-market customers. As the industry’s newest professional moving luminaire, the intellaspot XT-1 follows last year’s successful introduction of Cyberlight 2.0. The intellaspot XT-1 offers remarkable innovations in optics, lamp configurations, high lumen output, energy efficiency, zoom range, and overall feature set — all at a highly economical price point. The intellaspot XT-1 is slated for release at the end of Q2.
Also on stage at the 2010 Pro Light and Sound are two additional Barco Lighting Systems products that were recently released. The FQ-100 is a full-featured professional fog generator purpose-built to meet the rigorous demands of the nightclub, theatrical and touring industries. The unit can produce any atmosphere from dense fog to fine mist. Also showcased is the Cyberlight 2.0, a full-featured automated “moving-mirror” luminaire that produces over 30,000 lumens of output, and offers stunningly fast mirror movements.
“We are very pleased to introduce such a full range of new products and enhancements at the Pro Light and Sound expo,” said Chris Colpaert, VP of Creative Lighting for Barco. “During the last eighteen months, we have continued to invest in R&D, and we’ve strengthened our full range of lighting products with innovations such as version 2.0 software for the DL.3 and Axon media server, the new SDI-DMX Mixer Pro, and the upcoming intellaspot XT-1. In particular, the intellaspot XT-1 is destined to amaze the industry with its efficiency, high output and low price. Together, these advances demonstrate our commitment to the technology, and our keen desire to address our customers’ requests.”