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All Action for Avolites eDMX System

Avolites has supplied a new Diamond 4 Elite console and an eDMX radio DMX system to the National Theatre’s LX department. These went into immediate use on the NT’s new exterior architectural lighting scheme, and will also be utilised for its busy events schedule and other lighting projects happening in and around the building.

The console and the eDMX was specified by the National’s Chief LX Huw Llewellyn after careful consideration of the options and various demonstrations by Avolites.

The Avolites eDMX – in line with Avolites tradition - is among the most robust and reliable of radio DMX systems on the market, and is an integral part of the National’s architectural installation, phase one of which is currently underway.

“Avolites eDMX is brilliant! It’s given us the flexibility we needed to place lighting fixtures anywhere” says Llewellyn, adding that the National’s vast complex yields a plethora of roofs, balconies, walkways and other vantage points on which to place lights. Using eDMX also means they can locate the desk wherever they like.

Additionally, it saves them running miles and miles of cables – and so is far more cost-effective in both time and money than the cabled option would have been.

Currently, the installation consists of five Griven 700W dichroic floods, six Studio Due City Colors 2.5Ks, five Irideon AR500s and one V*L3000 for gobo projection onto the Lyttelton fly tower. The flytower is the hub of the present installation – it’s 22 metre height and 27 metre width now appearing at night as a huge block of colour with overlaid projection

The building’s angular 1960’s concrete construction is ideal for taking light. The addition of colour, shape and form to the physical elements and space via the lighting gives it a vibrant, modern dramatic nuance.

The lighting scheme has been very well received so far, and it is intended to expand it over the next 2 – 3 years.

All lighting fixtures are packed away during the day as it is a listed building and none can be in sight! The Diamond 4 comes into its own each night during set up and tweaking all the preset focus positions, and for quick and easy programming of new lighting cues and looks.

Llewellyn explains that they chose the Avo D4 after using their Pearl extensively for the 10 week 2004 outdoor summer season, featuring over 100 different events and performances. The console was hugely popular, specially for it’s ‘buskability’ which was needed on numerous occasions due to the nature of the shows. They decided to upgrade at the end of the season, and it was logical to go for the extra power and capacity of the D4 for the future.

Llewellyn likes the fact that all the D4’s functions are right there in front of you and that you can so quickly and easily put up shapes and record cues. He also likes the electronic legending and the useful information offered by the display panels

The D4 is used regularly by about 10 programmers, operators and designers at the National. Another reason for choosing Avo was because there’s never a shortage of lighting techs who are confident using Avolites products.

All photos are © Louise Stickland