I’ve used Quasar Science tube lights for a few years. The 4 foot T6 tubes labored nice as a background sensible, and the T8 lights in an array for a key. They’re totally different, and it’s as much as you to search out a wonderful method to make use of them in your productions. In any case, they’re tubes, and they could be a sensible and for lighting the topic.
One factor about tube lights once they first began rolling out was there wasn’t a mounting system. You needed to get artistic. Cardellini clamp was a well-liked possibility, nevertheless it has some flaws. One huge one is over-tightening the clamp may harm the sunshine. The opposite is the quantity of rigging was a bit overwhelming.
Once I popped open the case with the brand new Rainbow 2 and Double Rainbow demo tube lights, I used to be immediately impressed with how far Quasar Science has come. These new lights have been thought out, they usually addressed many points with tube lights—specifically, the mounting system.
These fixtures out of the field have preset results for widespread ones like police automobiles, hearth, and flashes, however the full potential comes whenever you use a console and DMX to manage the person pixels. That is the place issues get artistic. A designer can create patterns with a number of Rainbows tied collectively utilizing SACN and Artwork-Internet.
Let’s dive in and go over the options of the brand new Rainbow 2 and Double Rainbow tube lights, however first, I believe we have to speak concerning the Ossium Mounting System.
Ossium Mounting System
The Ossium Mounting System is the important thing to creating the Quasar Science lights extra manageable. These are well-thought-out mounts. As I discussed, mounting has been a problem, however not anymore.
On the again of Rainbow 2 and Double Rainbow is a NATO rail that goes the complete tube size. The included NATO rail is roofed with 1/4 20″ and three/8″ faucets for extra choices. The additionally included NATO clamp has a number of 1/4 20″ and three/8″ faucets as effectively. That is the bottom mounting system.
From right here, you possibly can add a child pin to the clamp or screw the child pin on to the NATO rail. Each choices make it straightforward to mount to a grip head. That’s it. Completed. All you want now’s a artistic imaginative and prescient.
A brand new V-Mount Battery Plate is obtainable if you wish to use a battery. It has 4 1/4 20″ threads that enable a number of equipment to be hooked up. I can’t stress how huge of an enchancment this Ossium Mounting System is. Good work!
Ossium Rotator
Another choice is to make use of the offered individually is the Ossium Rotator ($55.00), which acts as a mini-grip head. That is my favourite mounting possibility. Now you possibly can connect the sunshine to a child pin or on to a lightweight stand providing you with extra flexibility in positioning your lights. They screw on to the NATO Rail within the place of your selection. Since there are numerous faucets alongside the rail, permitting you to connect your batteries to any 5/8″ or 3/8″ rod. Screw two Rotator Blocks again to again, providing you with two swivel factors on two separate axes.
Ossium Battery Plate
The Ossium Battery Plate provides you the choice to mount a battery to the fixture, permitting you to rig your batteries to the again of the sunshine seamlessly. No must re-rig a lightweight when the inner battery dies. Merely swap out the useless battery.
Ossium Magnets
The Ossium Magnets are offered in units of two. Because the title states, they’re magnets and permit the fixture to connect to a metallic floor. Fitted with 1/4 20″ threads, the Magnets sturdily connect to the Ossium Rail or Slider.
Menu System
The menu system on each fashions could be very comparable and straightforward to navigate. Left and proper scrolls by the choices, and to pick the features of every possibility, you click on down. Quite simple.
Double Rainbow
The Double Rainbow has two rows of LEDs with the flexibility to manage them individually. They’re principally like having two Rainbow 2’s in a single fixture. As I discussed earlier, a consol and DMX are required to achieve entry to particular person pixels. Quasar Science doesn’t have an app.
Business First
One other trade first is the Spectrum Management characteristic which supplies customers the flexibility to decide on the spectral high quality of any colour level the lights can produce. 100% on this parameter provides the optimum spectrum for that colour, and 0% provides the spikiest RGB-only spectrum.
Double Rainbow Equipment Contains the next:
- 1 – RR Double Rainbow Mild
- 1 – Ossium Slider
- 1 – Ossium Child Pin
- 2 – Q-Boot Bumpers
- 1 – 8′ AC Energy Wire
- 1 – 8′ DC Energy Wire
- Fast Begin Information
- Shortcut Information
| Mannequin | RR50 | RR100 |
|---|---|---|
| Pixels | 2 Rows of 10 = 20 Complete | 2 Rows of 24 = 48 Complete |
| Wattage | Max 50W | Max 100W |
| Weight | 3.30lbs (1.5 kg) | 5.73lbs (2.6kg) |
| Dimensions | 22.7 x 3.34 in (577 x 84.8 mm) | 46.1 x 3.34 in (1171 x 84.8 mm) |
| Energy (vac) | 120vac = 0.45 amp 240vac = 0.25 amp |
120vac = 0.90 amp 240vac = 0.50 amp |
| Energy (vdc) | 12vdc = 4.50 amp 24vdc = 2.30 amp |
12vdc = n/a 24vdc = 4.80 amp |
The Double Rainbow is available in two sizes. The RR50 2′ has two rows of 10 pixels, and the RR100 4′ has two rows of 24.
Rainbow 2
Rainbow 2 Equipment Contains the next:
- 1 – R2 Rainbow 2 Mild
- 1 – Ossium Slider
- 1 – Ossium Child Pin
- 2 – Q-Boot Bumpers
- 1 – 8′ AC Energy Wire
- 1 – 8′ DC Energy Wire
- Fast Begin Information
- Shortcut Information
| Mannequin | Q25R2 | Q50R2 | Q100R2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pixels | 10 | 24 | 48 |
| Wattage | Max 25W | Max 50W | Max 100W |
| Weight | 1.76lbs (0.8kg) | 3.30lbs (1.50kg) | 5.84lbs (2.64kg) |
| Dimensions | 23 x 1.75 in (584.2 x 44.45 mm) | 46.9 x 1.75 in (1161.7 x 44.45 mm) | 90.86 x 1.75 in (2307.8 x 44.45 mm) |
| Energy (vac) | 120vac = 0.25 amp 240vac = 0.13 amp |
120vac = 0.45 amp 240vac = 0.25 amp |
120vac = 0.90 amp 240vac = 0.50 amp |
| Energy (vdc) | 12vdc = 2.50 amp 24vdc = 1.30 amp |
12vdc = 4.50 amp 24vdc = 2.30 amp |
12vdc = n/a 24vdc = 4.80 amp |
Rainbow 2 2-foot Shade and Output
I’ll break this into two sections. One for kelvin and the opposite for HSI output with the preset colours.
Rainbow 2 2-foot Output
My Sekonic C-700-U doesn’t take readings under 2000K, so I made a decision to start out at 3200k. All readings are from one meter.
- 3200k 309 lux
- 5600k 366 lux
- 10,000k 351 lux
Rainbow 2 2-foot Kelvin Accuracy & CRI
3200k
The common CRI is 91.0 with an prolonged CRI of 86.56
CCT is available in at 3227K
5600k
The common CRI is 98.0 with an prolonged CRI of 96.79
CCT is available in at 5264K
10,000k
The common CRI is 94.6 with an prolonged CRI of 92.50
CCT is available in at 8781K
All of the check scores are wonderful. Whereas the fixture set to 3200k has some huge swings in the long run, they nonetheless have spectacular colour rendition. One factor with tube lights is I usually don’t use them as keys, however having stable kelvin is vital when mixing with different lights. Since tubes are used continuously as background components, it’s important for them to signify colour correctly.
Pricing
The Rainbow 2
The Double Rainbow
A lot of these lights will be costly in nature since you may wish a number of to create your imaginative and prescient. For a lot of renting is a greater option to go. I can see utilizing a pair right here and there as practicals, however the management you have got with these is deep, and when used with DMX and artwork design, you possibly can pull off some loopy cool stuff.
Remaining Ideas
It’s nice to see how far Quasar Science has come because the Crossfades. Fixing the DIY mounting with an out-of-the-box included Ossium Mounting System is a superb improve.
Lighting design has come a great distance in live shows, music movies, and movies. These lights are instruments that permit you to create stunning and compelling lighting.
