0 T O U R PA C K .. Some of you may know that outside of Pro Mobile and my event production business, I also own and run a veterinary supply company and attend several exhibitions across the UK, USA and Europe every year. Exhibitions are an interest area for any event company and for those of you who want to branch out from the DJing world, designing, installing and lighting exhibition stands is one way to earn additional income with the added bonus of not having to always work in very loud environments.

78 When I’ve needed to light up product displays at shows in the past, I’ve visited Avtar Thethy of LED Factory to pick up a case of Astera LightDrops (now replaced by the AX3 LightDrop). LED Factory are well known as a battery-based LED lighting consultant, installation and hire company and were one of the few options for hiring lighting of this type and standard (which otherwise was a big financial investment). Lighting has moved on leaps and bounds over the last few years.

And one of the fastest growing companies in the field of architectural lighting is Ape Labs – a German-based company that launched in 2009 and provides lighting options with a three-year warranty and a motto of ‘keep it simple’. Of course, as DJs we love easy-to-use but effective lighting options that enhance our shows and provide that desirable eye-candy look. Ape Labs now provides a range of products that meet those needs, including the ApeCoin, LightCan, ApeLight Mini and ApeLight Maxi, as well as offerings from its design range, including the Glow Tube 2.0, Stick 2.0 and Stick XL 2.0.

In this review, I’m looking at the ApeCoin V2 Tour Pack, which comprises a robust flight case (measuring 54 x 35 x 20cm) containing 10 small USB-powered ApeCoins, 10 magnet ball-head adaptors for easy placement, both 15° and 65° lenses, and a remote control. Ape Labs also provides USB extension leads and some power supply plugs (these plugs are currently twopin European versions, but UK distributor LSA Projects is currently working out a UK option).

A cut-out in the case allows you to store the optional Ape Labs Connect (sold separately) that gives you full DMX control – we’ll look at this in a moment. My final observation about the flight case is its simple-but-smart internal design, with a thin steel sheet fitted to the middle section that all the ApeCoins and adaptors stick to via their in-built magnets – you can tell Ape Labs really thought this through! You immediately notice how well the product is made.

It feels weighty and high quality, possibly something of the German element here (the slogan ‘vorsprung durch technik’ comes to mind!). Each aluminium ApeCoin weighs in at 249g (0.55lbs) and measures 5.08cm (2.0”) x 3.81cm (1.5”) x 6.1cm (2.4”). Inspecting each ApeCoin, you’ll find there is no screen and no buttons. Whilst it feels odd not to have to program each fixture, this is all managed using the remote or app.

APE LABS COIN 2.0 TOUR PACK ape labs coin 2.0 tour pack Once you plug the unit into a USB You can control the plug or your own USB battery one of four groups pack, the fixture comes to life and control or smartphone automatically assigns itself to Apple or Android, channel 1 of the remote control. purchase a Connect You then have control over the are multiple lenses group, power, brightness, music but as standard the mode, speed, programs, and what comes with 15° Ape Labs call ‘special functions’. made from scratch-proof The remote control is slim and – they should last transmits via 2.4Ghz so you don’t need to be next to each fixture, At a recent show and with the built-in automatic to illuminate the signal repeater from lamp to a display box, I lamp you can control an entire attention of room from behind your desk. the ApeCoins USB bank and set The ApeCoins each feature a fade.

From a DJ quad-colour RGBW (red, green, set all 10 ApeCoins blue and white) 15W LED module – six with the 65° (2700k-5500k) that’s suitable for produces a wide various applications. lovely halo-style ring 80 fixture within and four units with the 10° lens, via the remote which gave me a very pointed app for line set to ‘music mode’ once once you also the party got going. (Personally, unit. There I would be scared using them available, as uplighters around the room ApeCoin 2.0 because they are so small; I and 65° lenses could see them being picked up, acrylic trodden on or even nicked.) for years.

Using the remote control, you can where I needed set static colours, change colour products in programs and program speeds, attracted the control dimming, and trigger delegates using music mode. The sound-to-light powered by a modes follow a pre-set scene to a colour within an automatic program, point of view, I which results in sound activation behind me until either the program is lens, which changed or the final scene loops colour fill and back and starts over again.

With at the edge, these, you have a more controlled solution for a high-energy soundactive mode. Activating the mode results in the dimming of the fixture to give a gentle glow, with each parameter still modifiable whilst in a static colour or program. When the built-in microphone detects music, the brightness of the f ixture jumps up to maximum before slowly dimming down. This is the type of lighting control I like to see on a soundactive mode, as it combines the sophisticated look that comes with controlled lighting whilst delivering a high-energy look for your dancefloor.

An alternative to the remote control is the Connect DMX transceiver – and this includes 3-pin XLR sockets for DMX in and out for if you plan to use it with an external lighting console. The transceiver serves multiple purposes, including Bluetooth control, which unlocks additional functionality. On opening the app, you get a full colour palette, a function to save custom colour mixes for recall, four banks APE LABS COIN 2.0 TOUR PACK of group control, blackout, set the channel a n d co n t ro l ove r p ro g ra m 4, 7 or 8, set speed and brightness.

Ape Labs’ and apply the unique music mode can also be and repeat for controlled from the app and has as you need – options which control how your worth noting lighting responds to music. operates in set to the 4- or You can save custom programs but in 8-channel using four individual cues with the 16-bit selectable colours and adjustable colour fades fade and hold times. If you need smoother inspiration, you can also access and enhanced programs published by other Ape Lights users via the 'browse DMX control community programs' option. fixtures further built-in signal The next window in the app is fixtures are called ‘Scenes’.

Scenes can take of range of the static colours or programs and apply them to individual groups One of the for triggering at the same time. the app control Every scene you make will give synchronise you the option to program all to a cloud-based four groups of fixtures and you long as you’re can even add your own programs. in). This To set up DMX control with the reprogram or Control transceiver, simply head show files and into the ‘Devices’ tab, tap on feature, the fixture you wish to control, businesses.

APE LABS COIN 2.0 TOUR PACK ape labs coin 2.0 tour pack mode to either When it comes to using the the DMX address, Connect control unit, it’s a settings. Then rinse significant step up from other as many fixtures similar lighting fixtures on the it’s that easy! It’s market. Control is seamless that the fixture between fixtures using the app, 8-bit control when with no lagging or dropping out.

7-channel modes, Ape Labs state a range of up mode you get to 1200m when used in 2.4Ghz control that makes mode in direct line of sight. and dimming much (perfect for slow fades Ape Labs have astounded me colour mixing). with the flexibility of these fixtures: the process of setting also relays to them up and assigning their afield with the groups, learning the controls of repeaters if the the fixtures and where to look already linked but out for functions both on the remote transceiver. control and through the Ape Labs Connect app, and how easy it is to coolest features of configure the system to operate is the ability to over DMX.

I genuinely can’t think custom pre-sets of any way to streamline the account (as process of lighting control any already signed more than Ape Labs have already eliminates the need to done. Lighting technology has manually transfer come a long way over the past is an invaluable few decades and will continue to especially for multi-op evolve and I can’t wait to see what Ape Labs have in store for 2024. ZZ XX -- JJ DD XX JJ DD rr ee ee nn oo ii PP 81