- tive and easy to use solution for adding ‘on-trend’ pixel mapping eff ects to their mobile lightshows, the DigiBlox 25 is the latest product from UK equipment manufacturer Abstract. Joining other pixel LED products in Abstract’s DigiSeries, the Digi- Blox 25 is a compact panel fi tted with s, arranged in a 5x5 matrix confi guration. matrix panels are a popular and easy way to add ‘wow’ factor to any light show. They’re colourful, fun and also incredibly versatile, allowing for eye-catching pixel-mapped eff ects and unique colour-changing displays.

Well, fi tted with RGB LEDs, the new DigiBlox 25 certainly isn’t lacking in colour; aside from the basics, pre-programed hues include cyan, purple, yellow and a striking bright white. Exciting patterns and colourchanging eff ects can be created too, easily accessible via a range of built-in programs. But before we delve into the creative possibilities that the DigiBlox 25 off ers, it’s worth looking at what you get inside Abstract’s DigiBlox Pro Pack.

It’s a neat allin-one kit that includes six DigiBlox 25 panels, a DigiD- rive control unit and a DigiPad remote control, giving you everything you need to create pixel-mapped effects straight out of the box. With a slender slim-line design, the panels are incredibly compact (you can easily grasp one in each hand) and, as far as power packs/control boxes go, the DigiDrive is remarkably lightweight, while still managing to house connections for six panels, as well as DMX in/out connections and a power socket.

Setup is simple enough. The power lead is included and the panels are pre-wired, with the loose ends of the six panels simply plugging into the DigiDrive. You can then either connect your own DMX 512 controller or use the included DigiPad remote, a palm-sized 5-button controller that connects to the DigiDrive via the DMX input XLR socket. Once everything is set up, it’s just a case of mounting your DigiBlox panels in a way that suits your rig and the event you’re working.

Abstact leaves it up to us to choose how we set up these six (or more) panels. Some of you may have checked out the Abstract lightshow at BPM 2015 – if you did, you’ll have seen how these DigiBlox panels were spread out up and down the stand’s various truss pillars, performing a combination of pixelmapped patterns and blinding strobe eff ects. So, using two sets of three panels mounted to truss on either side of your DJ booth could work really well.

Or you could mount them along the top bar of your goal-post to achieve downward-facing eff ects above the dance-fl oor. The only aspect that could limit you here is the size of the panels’ standard cables: measuring approximately two metres in length, by the time you’ve run them down the inside of your truss pillar you may not have much left to play with. However, the Abstract team have assured us that extension ABSTTRHACE TA DRTIG OIBFL AODXV PERROT IPSAINCGK cables will be available and they're portable DigiBlox even happy to provide DigiBlox with the fi rst place! custom cable lengths.

When it comes While mounting the panels individu- DigiBlox panels, ally can look great, you may wish four-button to ‘interlock’ the panels to form a top of the larger panel, which can look really control modes, eff ective as a back-drop for your DJ and select from booth. This is possible, but it isn’t Alternatively, exactly like slotting Lego bricks the same breadth together and you defi nitely can’t the bonus of do it on the fl y! You’ll need a screwtrigger strobing driver handy and you’ll need to leave the panels, without enough time, pre-gig, to unscrew the DigiDrive and reposition the brackets so that they ‘lock’ together, holding the This package panels in place.

Once you have crea plug-n-play ated this larger single ‘screen’, you can be a customised, could always consider leaving the one – so how panels joined together, transporting Blox panels the screen by laying it fl at in the van, in-depth you but obviously this does take away programing. With the compactness that makes these well as compatibility AARRTTIICCLLEE HHEEAADDIINNGG ABSTRACT DIGIBLOX PRO PACK panels so likable in to controlling the you can use the LED display menu on DigiDrive unit to select choose static colours built-in programs. the DigiPad gives you of selection, plus being able to instantly eff ects and black out having to access unit itself. the DigiPad, the options to stay fl excan just as easily be ible are there. lighting solution as it DMX-controlled To start with, a range of pre-proyou control your Digigramed displays and static colours really depends on how can be selected from the DigiDrive want to go with your using the on-board menu.

Aft er the a built-in menu as usual ‘test’ and ‘demo’ settings, this with DMX and THE EARLY DAYS menu off ers you a choice of pre-set with white pixels colours: red, yellow, green, cyan, blue, amongst swathes of purple and white. So, whatever the purple. If you want theme of event you’re working, of white pixels moving or whatever colours you’re using panel, there’s a throughout the rest of your lighttoo, while others see ing display, you can match them turning on and off, with the colour of your LED matrix our as they go. effects.

The 25 individual LEDs rethe slower cross-panel ally seem to stand out, providing and colour-change decent levels of brightness and viva waterfall of id colour. What’s more, when these and the latter standalone colours are selected colour strobing into you can always trigger strobing something a bit more (using the DigiPad) for that added There are even a burst of excitement. programs that offer white strobe/pulse Once you’ve scrolled past these LEDs taking on a new colour settings, you’ll find the opall 25 flash on and tion to activate the sound-to-light mode, which automatically runs With such a wide through a variety of built-in colour grams to select from, chases and patterns, producing of much more that a multi-coloured lightshow that could really need – or will add energy to the dance-floor such a compact LED while you concentrate on playing Perfect for use in a killer set. fog and haze is these vibrant, bright The final section of the DigiDrive’s bound to grab the menu allows individual selection of your audience, whether these built-in programs.

You’ll find to add colour to a twenty in total, and each offers day party using the you something different. Some use chases or appeal to slow-dimming lines of colour, while going crowd using others appear to be more random, pulse effects. 80 Of course, for those of you who do embrace the ‘dark art’ of DMX, there is the option to take things to the next level by using your own DMX controller to co-ordinate the DigiBlox with the other effects being used in your setup.

There are two DMX conrol options: a 24 channel mode and a full Pixel Mode. The 24 channel option allows you to remotely adjust settings like colour and speed and apply them to the DigiDrive's pre-programmed shows. For true pixel-mapping, the Pixel Mode allows individual RGB colour mixing for each separate pixel of each separate panel to allow literally any effect to be created. Regardless of which control oppopping up tion you choose, the DigiBlox 25’s green, cyan or impressive visuals and vibrant to send a snake colours certainly provide plenty around the of eye-candy for the dance-floor, program for that but you’ll also find that the panels random pixels themselves look good too, thanks changing colto the tasteful powder-coated Meanwhile, some of black finish and smooth 4mm colour-fade Perspex face, which ensure a modeffects create ern, tidy look for your lighting rig. beautiful shades, Furthermore, due to their unbeprograms add lievably compact size (165 x 165 the mix, for x 38mm) and low weight (0.75kg), high-energy. they’re ideal for taking on the road couple of pre-set and will fit nicely into a fairly small a traditional carry bag or flight case. effect, with the brightness as For the modern mobile DJ the Digioff in unison!

Blox Pro Pack is an ideal way to incorporate colourful pixel-mapped range of proeffects without spending excessive I can’t think amounts or adding too much bulk mobile DJs to your rig. What’s more, the panexpect – from els are simple to setup and start matrix panel! using straight away thanks to the venues where impressive pre-programmed patnot permitted, terns, while still leaving you the effects are option to get more creative by usattention of ing DMX control to coordinate the you want colour and speed of these patterns children’s birthwith your other lighting effects. multi-coloured Overall, Abstract’s new DigiBlox a ‘cooler’ club- 25 panels are easy-to-use, bright, the strobe and compact and fun – what more could a mobile DJ wish for?

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