Anybody use this system from Elation? If so, how is the wash effect? Can each Pod put out separate colors or do they have to all emit the same color? I want to wash the colors of a bar with different colors in different sections
Original Post
I have both the Octopod80's for my main lights and a tracpod30 for the truss above the drumkit. You can set them up in about 6 different ways, from all 8 lights responding to just 6 channels (all doing the same thing) to each light responding to 6 channels (each completely independent, 48 channels total). These channels need to in order, as in light 1 will use 1-6, light2 will use 7-12, etc, so your not free to break them apart, you just decide the starting channel. So some controllers like the Programmer where each fixture is hardcoded to start every 8 channels will have a few issues programming the lights.
Im impressed with the brightness of the lights. I used to use 2 floods that had 3 500watt bulbs (RGB), and I would run it at about 1/2 power. These are just a bright, and I really like the effect of not having the ENTIRE stage lit, but parts of interest. Looks a lot better. Each light can do independent strobe rates from 1 every few seconds to looking like a broken fluorecent light (probably 15-20 a sec). With the 80's though, you need to run a cable from the pixeldriver (the box the DMX plugs into) to each of the 8 lights, not 1 cable that goes to light1, then light1 one goes to light2, etc like the octopod30's do. I had to buy 4 extension cables to feed the lights on the other side of the stage. Power is sent through these cables so there is only 1 plug for all the lights to the wall (the pixeldriver). I would say that 1 otcopod 80 is about as bright as a 100 watt spot. It would be great for a bar. You just need to take into the account that you need to run 8 wires out from the driver to the lights (but no power, so it might be easier really). There are also several built in programs so the pixeldriver does not need a dmx source. Either sound activated or I believe you tell it the brightness, and the speed, then choose 1 of about 8 programs. Some do all the lights the same, some do 4x4, some are 1-2 at a time, etc. I havent played with that too much though.
I've been using them for about 6 months now and I have had no problems. I did notice that the tracpod behaves a bit different than the octopods though, same channels but the colors at the same settings dont match 100% and the strobe rates are very different between the 2 at the same setting. Also the tracpod is a little slower to respond to DMX signals, where the octopods are REALLY quick. This could be an 80 vs. 30 issue rather than an octopod vs. tracpod issue actually.
Let me know if you have any questions. I would probably get the riva's to recess in the ceiling if that fits what your trying to do. If you have an unfinished ceiling (like a lot of bars do), then the pods would be great too, they are about to release BLACK colored pods (currently they are all white, but they are easy to take the guts out and paint).
--Kevin
Im impressed with the brightness of the lights. I used to use 2 floods that had 3 500watt bulbs (RGB), and I would run it at about 1/2 power. These are just a bright, and I really like the effect of not having the ENTIRE stage lit, but parts of interest. Looks a lot better. Each light can do independent strobe rates from 1 every few seconds to looking like a broken fluorecent light (probably 15-20 a sec). With the 80's though, you need to run a cable from the pixeldriver (the box the DMX plugs into) to each of the 8 lights, not 1 cable that goes to light1, then light1 one goes to light2, etc like the octopod30's do. I had to buy 4 extension cables to feed the lights on the other side of the stage. Power is sent through these cables so there is only 1 plug for all the lights to the wall (the pixeldriver). I would say that 1 otcopod 80 is about as bright as a 100 watt spot. It would be great for a bar. You just need to take into the account that you need to run 8 wires out from the driver to the lights (but no power, so it might be easier really). There are also several built in programs so the pixeldriver does not need a dmx source. Either sound activated or I believe you tell it the brightness, and the speed, then choose 1 of about 8 programs. Some do all the lights the same, some do 4x4, some are 1-2 at a time, etc. I havent played with that too much though.
I've been using them for about 6 months now and I have had no problems. I did notice that the tracpod behaves a bit different than the octopods though, same channels but the colors at the same settings dont match 100% and the strobe rates are very different between the 2 at the same setting. Also the tracpod is a little slower to respond to DMX signals, where the octopods are REALLY quick. This could be an 80 vs. 30 issue rather than an octopod vs. tracpod issue actually.
Let me know if you have any questions. I would probably get the riva's to recess in the ceiling if that fits what your trying to do. If you have an unfinished ceiling (like a lot of bars do), then the pods would be great too, they are about to release BLACK colored pods (currently they are all white, but they are easy to take the guts out and paint).
--Kevin