-LED effects at my local disco shop and was not very impressed with their light output. So, I was a little sceptical as to whether a unit of this size would cut the mustard, and provide a good enough effect. 8800 However, I was willing to give them a try, so a pair of the units arrived in advance of a Christmas Dinner Dance booking at one of my residencies. Unfortunately, due to other work commitments, I was unable to test them on the bench before putting them into action on the night itself.

On opening the Gyrocopter box I was presented with a fairly compact lighting unit. It has two independent rotating heads, each with four lenses set at 90 degrees to one another. Behind each one is positioned an 8W CREE RGBW LED which generates a narrow beam of light when focused by the lens. Both heads are capable of full 360-degree continuous rotation and are mounted to a yoke that is also able to rotate through 540-degrees.

At 3.6kg, and with measurements of 340 x 210 x 175mm, the unit is surprisingly light and compact. Therefore, the size and weight is a real bonus for those who use small vans or estate cars for transporting their equipment. The majority of the casing is constructed from strong black plastic, but there are also metal elements to the base and yoke. In the box was an omega hanging bracket, a safety loop for screwing into the base, a manual, and a UK IEC mains lead (something that many manufacturers don’t supply as standard these days!).

I would definitely recommend investing in cases – or at least padded bags – for transportation, as otherwise the unit’s uneven shape and moving parts will make it prone to damage. THEEQ AURINT OOXF GAYDRVOERCTOIPSTINEGR Having set everything else up, I got to work rigging the Gyrocopters to the Equinox Overhead Kit on my booth. Affixing the hanging bracket was quite straightforward, although I was a little unsure if the bolts had locked properly into place as there was no positive ‘click’, but adding the safety loop, and connecting a safety wire, made me feel more comfortable.

The units benefit from both IEC power input and output sockets as well as XLR DMX input and output connections, which is now pretty standard for most DJ lighting fixtures. The only problem I encountered was mounting them somewhere where I wouldn’t hit my head on them, as I didn’t have the height extension pieces on my Overhead Kit and, for a compact fixture, the Gyrocopter actually hangs down surprisingly low. There is a straight-forward four button menu and small LED display on the front of the base, which allows for mode selection and DMX addressing.

For easy standalone operation, the unit offers an Auto Mode, with a choice of 10 speed settings. Alternatively, the Sound Mode, triggered by an internal microphone with variable sensitivity control, can be used to synchronise the Gyrocopter’s effect to the music. both modes, the fixture offers a choice of 14 different pre-programmed light shows that can easily be selected from the menu. Multiple fixtures can also be connected together using XLR cables for simple Master/Slave synchronisation and a Slave 2 Mode allows certain heads to be selected to run contrasting movements to the others which is useful for easily setting up a lightshow that looks impressive.

EQUINOX GYROCOPTER Equinox Gyrocopter For the purpose of the trial, I initially ran the units connected as a Master and a Slave, set to Show 0, and in Sound Mode. From the moment I switched them on, I was impressed with the Gyrocopters’ effects. The light coverage, in particular, is excellent, due to the good range of the pan and tilt movement and the fact that each fixture generates eight different beams all pointing in different directions. Thanks to the inclusion of powerful 8W LEDs, the output from each lens is far superior to some other compact multi-LED effects, so my initial misgivings were most certainly unfounded.

The beam angle is 5-degrees, so quite tight, certainly comparable to a traditional pin spot beam. The combination of the eight beams creates a good visual effect, which looks even better when you can see the pinsharp shafts of light in a little haze or smoke. Each of the 14 different in-built shows are distinctly different, making good use of diverse colour combinations, fast and slow rotations, and strobing effects. They also feature a mixture of matching and contrasting head rotation and colours, which makes for a varied and impactful lightshow.

In I must say that at least one of the pre-programmed shows reminded me of the popular 1980s Harvester effect, with both heads colour matched and rotating in unison. These usually had four lines of four Par 36 lamps that rolled round, so it was definitely a club effect as they were quite sizeable. But the Gyrocopter’s compact size and low weight makes it an ideal unit for 81 Equinox Gyrocopter mobile DJs looking to create a retro When I first powered club look for ‘80s themed parties. was impressed at All that’s missing to truly recreate run.

This is down to the Harvester effect is another two they are convection heads, maybe that should be the no noisy fan. The only next Equinox product? from the movement motors. Another In terms of control, the Gyrocopter ing is that the units offers a very good selection of DMX memory, so will switch channel options. A choice between the same settings as 6, 14, 19 and 20 channel modes is they were used.

This available, making it suitable both for you use a pair set to DJs who have limited DMX channels after setting them available as well as those who like start running a maximum control of their show. The show every time you full 20 channel setting allows pixel on with no need to mapping for the individual beams justments using the and complete independent multidirectional rotation control for each The only niggling head. A 0-100% dimming function countered with the and strobe facility, as well as access that the inside of to pre-set colour chase and movea bit dusty in places, ment macros, make the Gyrocopter seen a similar issue ideal for integration into a larger other suppliers’ brand DMX-controlled lightshow. fact, I don’t think I 82 up the units, I lens that was clean from new!

Havhow quietly they ing previously worked in theatre the fact that lighting, this is a little bug bear of cooled so have mine! I get a bit obsessive about sound comes clean optics and, indeed, even the of the pan / tilt Gyrocopter manual stresses the point worth notimportance of clean lenses to maxhave an internal imise light output! back on with the last time If you’re thinking of buying a new means that if lighting unit or two, these are defi- Master/Slave, nitely worth looking at.

I don’t think up once, they’ll one would look right on its own, synchronised light used as a centre piece, as they are switch them quite compact, so I’d recommend make any adbuying them in pairs. Used in this menu. way I think they offer good coverage and look impressive, yet they downside I enare also very light weight and comproduct was pact, making them ideal for mobile the lenses were DJs. All in all, a feature-packed lightbut then I’ve ing effect that would be a worthy with most addition to your lighting rig. new units.

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