From the ETC PR machine:

ETC introduces Source Four LED™

Industry-favorite spotlight now in high-efficiency LED version

The world’s most popular line of profile spotlights just got bigger. ETC’s Source Four® started with the HPL lamp. Then the Source Four HID was added to the range. And now there’s the ETC Source Four LED, featuring brilliant colors, low heat, and even more energy-saving efficiency.

ETC’s product manager for the Source Four LED, Matthew Armendariz-Kerr, explains: “We knew that if we were going to build a profile fixture powered by LEDs, it had to be worthy of the Source Four name. When you think Source Four, you think beauty of light, efficiency, and industry-standard appearance. We had to achieve all three. Our engineers and designers went to work on it and delivered — in a big way. They were able to package our exclusive Selador® LED x7 Color System in a bright fixture that is shaped and sized like a Source Four and offers the quality and functionality designers expect.”

The Source Four LED produces a sharp, clean beam of focusable light or a smooth wash, to give extra versatility to almost all lighting projects. The luminaire will be available in three versions: Lustr+™, Daylight™, and Tungsten™.

Just like ETC’s Desire Lustr+™ luminaire, the Source Four LED Lustr+ offers a complete palette of colors, thanks to the Selador x7 Color System™. Meanwhile, Source Four LED Tungsten and Daylight produce maximum brightness at the respective warm (3000K) and cool white (5600K) color temperatures. Each offers the same projection-quality beam.

The Source Four LED is perfect for venues where energy efficiency is highly important, or where seamless and silent color-changing may be required. And it is specifically designed to work well alongside traditional types of lighting. Armendariz-Kerr continues: “There has to be a benefit when adding new technology to a lighting rig. With LEDs, there has always been implied energy efficiency. Unfortunately, this has not always been true of all LED fixtures, especially some of the current LED profiles on the market. But efficacy has always been an ETC imperative. So, with the Source Four LED, we demanded that the amount of light we produce for the power used be exceptional. With this new line of fixtures we are achieving between 30 and 40 lumens per watt, depending on the model. These are compelling numbers — best in class compared to other offerings.”

“We’ve spent a lot of development effort making sure the product is right and that it delivers the best possible quality. We understand that richness of color is vital to a performance; and beyond that, we have an aesthetically wonderful product. It looks, feels, and focuses like a Source Four, with the added benefits of an intelligent fixture.”

ETC has already done a number of large-scale tests, with numerous beta sites. Armendariz-Kerr says: “Lighting designers are really happy with it. They have confirmed that we’ve created a useful and exciting product that people can integrate into their rigs and existing design approaches, while opening up a range of new possibilities.”

The new Source Four LED is expected to be available to ship in April.

As of right now, we DO NOT HAVE ANY PRICING DETAILS! Hopefully we will in the next couple of days.

Rosco recently tweeted a photo showing one of their gobos projected by the new fixture

I was able to watch a preview video last week of the fixture in action and it looks amazing! Hopefully, ETC will be posting it soon on their Layers Of Light mini-site.

Today is officially the last day of winter, so stay tuned for more news “spring-ing” up! (sorry, I just had to!)

Until then, here’s a few interesting products to get you excited about your Mardi Gras festivities Spring productions!

Over the last couple of years, Apollo has been slowly getting into the lighting fixture business. While they’re certainly not trying to squash the big guys, they do have quite the stable (pun intended!) of products. You can find info on their architectural lighting and LED fixtures on their website, but I’d like to highlight the MultiBar LS4195.

This really is the perfect solution for small bands, schools, and meetings. Standalone operation or DMX controlled. Ships in a single carrying case, which is included (I KNOW!). And mounts on a speaker stand (we sell those, too, you know!).

Here’s some more pix:

Did I mention the price? Suggested list price of only $498! There are also footswitch and handheld controllers (non-DMX) that you can add to controll on/off, tempo, strobe and patterns.

And it’s from Apollo. They’re good people.

Speaking of good people, The Light Source, makers of all your favorite clamps, just came out with slimmer Mega Coupler. Oddly enough, they’ve named it: the Mega Slim Couple.

It’s a great solution to lighter weight fixtures and gear that you may need to hang. I’m already a big fan of the Mini-Claw and the Mini-Clamp, so having another option is very much welcome!

Guess who just ordered an ETC Ion 2000 with a fader wing for the rental stock? That’s right, we now have the small console with the big punch! I may even have to set up display showing the evolutionary ladder of the ETC consoles (Vision, MicroVision, Expression, Express, SmartFade, Ion)!

Still figuring out what the rental pricing will be, but if you’re looking for a great moving light or LED console, look no further!

Alright, enough blabbing!

I’m obligated to say: BUY GEL! BUY GOBOS! BUY TAPE! FIXTURES, CONSOLES, DRAPERY!!

And most importantly: Go see theatre!!

Here’s how to SAVE $1.00 per sheet or $15.00 per roll on filters in the Apollo Gel color range.

Who’s Eligible: Consumers. This is an end user promotion. Rebates are limited to three per customer.

Purchase: A minimum of 15 sheets or 1 roll of Apollo Gel color filters from an authorized Apollo U.S. dealer between 09/1/2011 and 11/30/2011.

Cut: The item # sticker from the corner of each sheet or the item # label from each core as proof of purchase.

Enclosure: Proof of purchase information above, the completed rebate form, and the sales receipt with the date and quantity circled. All must be included or the redemption will automatically be rejected.

For all details click on Gel Rebate Form.

KEEP IN MIND: ANY DIRECT MANUFACTURER’S REBATES ARE IN ADDITION TO ANY DISCOUNTS WE ALREADY GIVE OUR CUSTOMERS!

These items will ship direct from GAM. No local pickups!

A couple quick product updates for you today and then back to looking at cats with funny captions!

We just got in some dirt cheap molded Y two-fers with Edison connectors.

Would I use them with a Source Four? NOPE!

Would I use them with a LED fixture? YEP!

These are in stock!!

Next up: What could improve the Light Source Mega Combo Wrench?

Add color!

I’m not sure if folks will be getting excited about these. I know a couple techs that might just get a couple and Bedazzle them!

The cool thing is that they’re the same price as the regular, boring aluminum colored Mega Combo Wrenches.

We’ve got a few of the colors in stock, as well as a bunch of the black wrenches.

These are great to keep around for when you can’t find a wrench!

That’s all for now! I’m working up some back-to-school specials, so stay tuned!

Now, back to the kitties!

Contact your JSHAA sales person for more info!

What it DOES have is a massive 1000w heating block, that retains it’s heat for up to 45 minutes after you unplug it.

Wait… What? Yes, you unplug it!

Just like the old Mole Richardson foggers, you plug it in to heat it up, then push the brass plunger to manually move the fog fluid through the system.

Here’s some pix of William demonstrating the proper use of the Ultra Handy Fogger:

We currently have a unit to demo for a couple days.

This is a perfect machine to use for film and video atmosphere effects, when you have to put fog in just the right spot. It will also work great on stage if you need to have fog in a spot that you can’t run an AC cord to.

It’s solidly built by the hard-working folks at Ultratec and can use any of the fog fluids.

Give us a call for more information and pricing!

Boring, I know. Bear with me…

Let’s get the basics out of the way. Here’s the basic selection of connectors that you’ll find on fixtures in a theater:

Edison (aka "5-15", aka "U-Ground")

Twist-Lock 15amp (aka "L5-15")

Twist-Lock 20amp (aka "L5-20")

Most of the time in a theater, you’ll see the Edison or the L5-20. I’ve only run into the L5-15 when using ETC Dimmer Doublers (an underused technology, IMHO).

Then there’s the standard Stage Pin connector (aka "2P&G", aka "Bates")

The 20amp version used with most fixtures has a standard configuration that is specified in USITT S3-1997 Standard for Stage Pin Connectors.

This standard guarantees that no matter where you get your 2P&G connectors, they will connect with each other. And there are definitely a variety of styles out there!

Here’s a variety of just the ones that we have in stock.

	Union Connector – Pressure Plate style This has been our most popular connector for years. Clear cover for quick visual inspections of the wiring. Connections are made by tightening a screw to squeeze the wire between two plates. These have been discontinued. We only have a few left.
	Union Connector – "New" Pressure Plate style This is Union Connector’s new version of "Pressure Plate". Oddly enough, there are no pressure plates. Huh…. This connections are similar to the other manufacturers of 2P&G connectors, in that the wires are inserted into the brass inlets and tightened with screws. Ferrule Sleeves are included for use with small gauge wires. We have plenty of these in stock.
	Union Connector – Crimp style Same as the older pressure plate style but with ring terminals. Because of the ring terminals, these require more than just a screw driver when installing them. We’ve got about two dozen kicking around the shop.
	Rosco To be honest, we’ve had about 30 of these kicking around for about 12 years now…. I have no idea how they compare to current Rosco connectors. The strain-relief is a little odd…
	PinTech Looks just like a Bates connector to me. Lower price. We have some of these in stock because a customer in Wisconsin loves them. Go Badgers!
	Bates – Clear Cover Same concept as the new Union Connector style but with three screw to hold the cover on. We generally don’t stock these. Not that they’re not great connectors and very solid, it’s just we have had more requests for the Union Connector Pressure Plate style over the years.
	Bates – Black Cover Same as above but with black cover.
	TMB ProPin Features as the Bates version with three screws for the cover. We generally don’t stock these.

Well, there you go! Everything you didn’t want to know about stage connectors. I could go into accessories, like the Pin-Splitter….