E Q U I N OX : £ The new Saturn Spot from the Prolight Concepts Group’s Equinox brand first caught my eye when I saw a photo online of the company’s stand at PLASA Focus in Leeds. It looked intriguing, but my initial assumption was that it was a fixture aimed at concert touring and nightclub installations and would sit outside the budget of most mobile DJs. However, when I got the full details from the guys at Prolight, I was pleased to find that this innovative fixture is squarely aimed at the mobile DJ market.

6688 Essentially two fixtures in one, the Saturn Spot combines a traditional moving head spot with a unique LED ‘eye candy’ effect to create a versatile fixture that can be used to generate a wide variety of different ‘looks’. The advantages from a mobile- DJ-perspective are clear: transporting, rigging, and wiring one fixture adds more than one effect to your lighting arsenal. Three concentric rings of opaque white plastic form the unit’s ‘eye candy’ element.

These are mounted at varying depths, with the larger outside ring sitting in line with the front of the fixture’s casing, while the smaller inside ring is set back within it by around 2”, and the middle ring is equally spaced between the two. Behind each ring are mounted RGB SMD LEDs, 76 in total, which cause the rings to glow brightly when illuminated. Each LED can be controlled individually by the unit’s internal circuitry. This means that multicoloured chase patterns can be generated that ‘zoom’ across the three rings from back to front.

Even more impressive, chases within each ring can be created with colour changes circling independently around each of the three rings. Described by Prolight as ‘meteor’ effects, these eye-catching patterns are extremely effective. I was really quite impressed by the effects created by this unique triple LED ring setup. The opaque nature of the plastic used for the rings means that the individual LEDs aren’t really visible, rather the whole thing glows with the light from adjacent LEDs blending together.

The in-built chase patterns are extremely effective and, depending on which you choose, can be used to generate both decidedly retro and thoroughly modern effects. One point that is worth making: the output from the LED rings isn’t bright enough to provide a wash of light. This is purely designed for those ‘eye candy’ effects, not as a source of dancefloor illumination. Moving on to the beam element of the fixture, this is powered by a single 30W white-light LED.

It features independent colour and GOBO wheels, each offering nine slots as well as open white/spot. The colours – red, green, blue, yellow, orange, magenta, green, pink, and cyan – are rich and vibrant, while the GOBOs offer a good variety of simple shapes ideal for mid-air beam creation and more complex patterns that are suited to projection onto venue walls, ceilings, and floors. EQUINOX SATURN SPOT At 3-degrees, the beam angle is ex- 630-degrees, tremely narrow.

This means that the motion is projected GOBO patterns are much figure is certainly smaller in diameter when compared but that shouldn’t with other common mobile DJ movlem in practice ing head fixtures over the same disthe unit mounted tance. A potential advantage if you and need to hit find yourself working in particularly front of it. It large rooms, it does mean that the and tilt movement, fixture is less-suited to GOBO profor both smooth jection over short distances – for precise positioning. example adding interest to a dancefloor from plinth-mounted fixtures.

In line with the On the other hand, the tight angle nox range, the makes the beam more powerful fers a choice than those of other fixtures with ranging from the same light-source. This means operation to that it is particularly suited to crefeatures an ating mid-air effects in a haze-filled (with variable environment. sound active plied pre-programmed A manually-adjustable lens is includselectable ed for optimising the focus for difcombine both ferent projection distances and the ring effects: fixture also offers digital dimming or the other between 0 and 100 percent.

Other at others with features include temperaturemultaneously. controlled cooling fans, IEC input preferred to see and output sockets for linking the cated to the power supply to multiple fixtures, fixture, another variable speed strobe effects, and rings, and the pan/tilt auto correction. two together. lowed standalone The fixture offers a pan range sewhich effects lectable between 540-degrees and any given time. EQUINOX SATURN SPOT Equinox Saturn Spot while its field of tilt Multiple fixtures can be linked 210-degrees.

This latter together for synchronised Master/ on the low side, Slave operation with any of the be a big probpre-programmed shows selected. unless you have Pan or tilt inversion can also then on a high plinth be used to create different, but the floor directly in complimentary, movement across does offer 16-bit pan a multi-fixture standalone setup. which allows movements and For complete control over the unit’s features, and for integration into a larger lightshow, the fixture can rest of the Equialso be operated using DMX.

It of- Saturn Spot offers a choice of two DMX channel of operating modes modes: a basic 12-channel option or simple standalone an advanced 23-channel alternative. full DMX control. It The difference between the two is in-built microphone the inclusion of fine pan and tilt sensitivity) for alteration on the 23-channel mode operation and is supas well as advanced control over the with three LED rings. On the basic mode a sinlightshows. All of these gle channel provides access to solid the beam and LED colours and pre-programmed zoom at times with one and chase patterns, with a separate element active and channel providing speed control.

For both running sithe advanced mode an additional Personally, I’d have nine channels provide independent one program dedired, green, and blue LED dimming beam aspect of the for each of the three rings. purely for the LED third combining the It's worth noting than even the This would have al- 23-channel mode doesn’t provide users to choose pixel control over the individual they want active at LEDs, only remote access to the THE EARLY DAYS 69 Equinox Saturn Spot pre-programmed ‘meteor’ effects This certainly isn’t the in a choice of single and combined ing head I’ve ever colours.

However, I’d say this gives fact its motors could more than enough flexibly for even scribed as noisy, however the biggest ‘control freak’ of a mobe a problem in a disco bile DJ. Considering the number of It is supplied with an channels that would be required for for hanging from a individual control of the s, truss setup and is I can fully understand why the dechunky rubber feet signers chose not to provide it. stand directly on a The fixture itself has a sleek de- I think it’s fair to say sign with a luxurious matt-black nox Saturn Spot is rubberised finish.

Measuring 370 exciting new moving x 260 x 160mm it sits somewhere ucts to hit the market around the middle of the Equinox couple of years. moving head range in terms of any unconventional size. It is certainly portable, and this, it is sure to split weighing in at just 4.8kg is easy confident that many to carry, rig, and transport. Two the effect, but it of the fixtures cased up together me if others aren’t should be a manageable one-man sonally, I love the ‘eye lift, perfect for mobile DJ use. and think this is a 70 quietest movyou’re a DJ looking to create a rig come across, in that stands out from the crowd.

If perhaps be deyou’re replacing existing movers or that won’t looking to introduce them to your environment. lightshow for the first time, this op- Omega bracket tion is well worth considering. Four lighting stand or of these mounted on truss plinths also fitted with at various heights would create a allowing it to versatile lightshow of both potent floor or stage. beams and eye-catching LED chase effects. that the Equione of the most Unfortunately, if you’re reading head prodthis review when the magazine is in the past first released, you can’t rush out However, as with and buy a set of Saturn Spots right fixture such as away.

I was lucky enough to have opinion. I’m the opportunity to try out a pre- DJs will love release sample of the fixture and wouldn’t surprise it won’t hit the shops until August. impressed. Per- But, when it does, it could well candy’ effect prove to be very popular. perfect choice if EQUINOTXH SEA ETAURRLNY SDPAOYTS THE NEW WIDE ULTRA COMPACT EVOX 8 ACTIVE TWO-WAY ARRAY • 700W RMS DSP • 8 X FULL RANGE 2” SOURCE WITH 120 • 12” HIGH EXCURSION • SATELLITE HEIGHT FROM 1.5 - 2.2 METRES READY 1 DISPERSION AND PORTABLE CONTROLLED DIGITAL AMPLIFIER DRIVER THAT CREATE A TRUE LINE DEGREE DISPERSION WOOFER FULLY ADJUSTABLE TO PLAY WITH 3 SIMPLE STEPS 2 3