You are on the Desktop website, Click here to go back to our mobile website
REVIEWED
REVIEWED: Equinox Switchblade
As a self-proclaimed ‘gear head’, I love having the opportunity to try out the latest mobile DJ gear and write reviews on my findings for the readers of Pro Mobile. Although I must admit that I sometimes inwardly groan when the product I am asked to put through its paces is just a little bit brighter, or lighter, or fancier than the last new fixture I was given to try out. That’s why I was very excited to be asked to look at the new Equinox Switchblade, which really is something quite different.
One of the brands of British entertainment lighting powerhouse the Prolight Concepts Group, Equinox is familiar to many mobile DJs as a source of DJ effect lighting as well as larger moving head fixtures. The Switchblade falls closer to the latter category – in terms of size, price and build, but it is far from a traditional moving head. I think the best way to describe it is as two fixtures in one, comprising of an LED wash/strobe batten on one side and a set of five LED-powered beams on the other. This makes it a truly versatile unit that is ideal if you’re a professional mobile DJ who want to create a unique light show using DMX control, but also wants to minimise the number of fixtures you have to carry in to, and setup at, each event.
The fixture itself has the feel of a serious piece of kit. Its curved moulded plastic design gives it a sleek appearance, while its sturdy construction speaks of a professional unit. It is a substantial size, measuring over 50cm across, and weighs in at a fairly hefty 11.2kg. However, thanks to well-placed handles on either side of the base, it is easy enough to lift, carry and rig.
250 tri-colour (RGB) 5050 SMD LEDs are arranged across one side of the unit in a rectangular configuration to create its wash/strobe alter ego. When illuminated together, these generate a vibrant and powerful wash with a broad 160° beam angle. This is ideal for bathing a dancefloor in light or illuminating the walls, floor or ceiling of a venue for ‘mood’ lighting as guests arrive at a party. The LEDs are also divided up into five separate smaller rectangles, the colour of which can each be controlled independently. This means that the fixture can also be used to generate ‘eye candy’ chase patterns and effects.
On the flip side of the unit are five dome-shaped lenses, with a potent 40W RGBW LED positioned behind each one. These generate five extremely powerful and sharp coloured beams that are arranged in an equally-spaced straight line formation. In normal conditions, the unit generates five vibrant dots of colour, which work ok for adding energy to a dancefloor. However, if you’re lucky enough to be playing a venue that allows smoke or haze effects to be used, the beam effects this fixture is able to generate are truly stunning. Each individual beam can be controlled separately, with full mixing, which means that beam chase effects can also be created.
Both sides of the unit allow variable speed, multi-coloured strobing, which adds yet another string to the Switchblade’s bow. With all of the RGB LEDs on full, the wash side of the fixture creates a convincing white output when strobing. This effect is pretty powerful and ideal for adding energy to the dancefloor during rock or dance sets. Strobing of the beams is also very effective, especially in a haze-filled atmosphere.
360° continuous movement, for both pan and tilt, means that each of the effects can be pointed in absolutely any direction. It also means that spinning effects can be created by continuously rotating the unit’s base motor, which looks great used with either the wash or beam output. It’s also possible to create a truly unique dual output effect by lighting up both the beam and wash LEDs and then continuously rotating the tilt motor. For those of us who have been around since the ‘70s / ‘80s, the effect reminds me of the old ‘harvester’ pinspot arrays.
As well as continuous rotation, the rotation in both axes benefits from 16-bit fine motor control. This allows for precise static positioning of the head, so that the beams or wash output can be directed exactly where you want it to go. More importantly, it also means that the unit is able to achieve extremely smooth movement at slow speeds, which makes for nice sweeping effects that are ideal for a wedding first dance or the ‘breakdown’ sections of a dance set.
The unit is fitted with rubber feet on its base, so can stand directly on the floor – or on a truss plinth. It also comes with a pair of quick-release omega brackets, which can be easily attached to the base for use with truss clamps. It can then either be hung from a horizontal truss or goalpost, or side-mounted to a vertical truss. I think a pair of units hanging on a goalpost above the DJ would work great for a small mobile rig, while four or more side-mounted to truss totems would look awesome on a big rig (although you would need very hefty base plates, as the weight, size and movement of the Switchblade would create quite a lot of toppling force!).
As we would expect from Equinox, the Switchblade offers a variety of operational modes. It comes pre-programmed with 16 user-selectable ‘auto’ lightshows, which can be either setup to run at a set speed or triggered by an internal microphone (with variable sensitivity). These can run on a single fixture, but can also be used to synchronise two or more units, connected via DMX cables, in a Master/Slave configuration. A choice of two different ‘slave’ modes allow two sets of fixtures to carry out different, but complementary, movements and colour changes. This is a great way to quickly and easily integrate Switchblades into a mobile DJ setup to great effect.
However, to really make use of the creative potential and ‘two-in-one’ functionality of the Switchblade, DMX control is really a must. For this, the unit offers a choice of four different DMX channel modes (2, 15, 23 or 48), allowing you to choose the one that fits with your preferred level of control flexibility and the number of channels available on your DMX controller or software solution. The basic 2-channel option simply allows remote selection of the internal pre-programmed shows and the related speed / sound sensitivity settings. Meanwhile, the 48-channel option provides full movement control as well as individual mixing for each beam and LED wash section, allowing the creation of custom eye candy and beam chase effects.
Mode selection, DMX addressing and customisation of various operating parameters is facilitated by a large backlit LCD display on the front of the unit’s base. Four push buttons allow navigation through a very intuitive menu system, featuring unabbreviated text, that means you’ll probably never need to look at the fixture’s manual when getting it setup. That said, if you do need to resort to reading the instructions, the included booklet is very comprehensive and well-written.
One point to be aware of is that the designers of this fixture have opted for the 5-pin DMX sockets prevalent on more pro-level lighting fixtures in place of the 3-pin connections more common on DJ lighting. This isn’t really a problem, as the signal is the same, and 3-pin to 5-pin converters are readily and cheaply available. Just don’t get caught out by ordering the wrong cables or rocking up to a gig without the converter you need to hook up the lights to the 3-pin output from you DMX controller!
Power is provided by locking PowerCON sockets, which once were only found on higher-end pro lighting fixtures but are now increasingly becoming the norm in the mobile DJ world too. In addition to the input socket there is also an output socket, which allows the power supply for two or more Switchblade units to be daisy-chained together.
Combining potent wash/strobe and striking beam effects into one versatile fixture, the Switchblade is a really interesting option for the creative mobile DJ looking to put together a distinctive lightshow. As you might have guessed, this isn’t a cheap fixture, but it certainly isn’t outside of the realms of possibility for those running bigger shows for larger events with decent budgets. Two, four or even six of these, with a bit of nifty DMX programming, could be used to create a stunning and flexible mobile lighting rig that works just as well for a wedding first dance as a high energy dance set.
One of the brands of British entertainment lighting powerhouse the Prolight Concepts Group, Equinox is familiar to many mobile DJs as a source of DJ effect lighting as well as larger moving head fixtures. The Switchblade falls closer to the latter category – in terms of size, price and build, but it is far from a traditional moving head. I think the best way to describe it is as two fixtures in one, comprising of an LED wash/strobe batten on one side and a set of five LED-powered beams on the other. This makes it a truly versatile unit that is ideal if you’re a professional mobile DJ who want to create a unique light show using DMX control, but also wants to minimise the number of fixtures you have to carry in to, and setup at, each event.
The fixture itself has the feel of a serious piece of kit. Its curved moulded plastic design gives it a sleek appearance, while its sturdy construction speaks of a professional unit. It is a substantial size, measuring over 50cm across, and weighs in at a fairly hefty 11.2kg. However, thanks to well-placed handles on either side of the base, it is easy enough to lift, carry and rig.
250 tri-colour (RGB) 5050 SMD LEDs are arranged across one side of the unit in a rectangular configuration to create its wash/strobe alter ego. When illuminated together, these generate a vibrant and powerful wash with a broad 160° beam angle. This is ideal for bathing a dancefloor in light or illuminating the walls, floor or ceiling of a venue for ‘mood’ lighting as guests arrive at a party. The LEDs are also divided up into five separate smaller rectangles, the colour of which can each be controlled independently. This means that the fixture can also be used to generate ‘eye candy’ chase patterns and effects.
On the flip side of the unit are five dome-shaped lenses, with a potent 40W RGBW LED positioned behind each one. These generate five extremely powerful and sharp coloured beams that are arranged in an equally-spaced straight line formation. In normal conditions, the unit generates five vibrant dots of colour, which work ok for adding energy to a dancefloor. However, if you’re lucky enough to be playing a venue that allows smoke or haze effects to be used, the beam effects this fixture is able to generate are truly stunning. Each individual beam can be controlled separately, with full mixing, which means that beam chase effects can also be created.
Both sides of the unit allow variable speed, multi-coloured strobing, which adds yet another string to the Switchblade’s bow. With all of the RGB LEDs on full, the wash side of the fixture creates a convincing white output when strobing. This effect is pretty powerful and ideal for adding energy to the dancefloor during rock or dance sets. Strobing of the beams is also very effective, especially in a haze-filled atmosphere.
360° continuous movement, for both pan and tilt, means that each of the effects can be pointed in absolutely any direction. It also means that spinning effects can be created by continuously rotating the unit’s base motor, which looks great used with either the wash or beam output. It’s also possible to create a truly unique dual output effect by lighting up both the beam and wash LEDs and then continuously rotating the tilt motor. For those of us who have been around since the ‘70s / ‘80s, the effect reminds me of the old ‘harvester’ pinspot arrays.
As well as continuous rotation, the rotation in both axes benefits from 16-bit fine motor control. This allows for precise static positioning of the head, so that the beams or wash output can be directed exactly where you want it to go. More importantly, it also means that the unit is able to achieve extremely smooth movement at slow speeds, which makes for nice sweeping effects that are ideal for a wedding first dance or the ‘breakdown’ sections of a dance set.
The unit is fitted with rubber feet on its base, so can stand directly on the floor – or on a truss plinth. It also comes with a pair of quick-release omega brackets, which can be easily attached to the base for use with truss clamps. It can then either be hung from a horizontal truss or goalpost, or side-mounted to a vertical truss. I think a pair of units hanging on a goalpost above the DJ would work great for a small mobile rig, while four or more side-mounted to truss totems would look awesome on a big rig (although you would need very hefty base plates, as the weight, size and movement of the Switchblade would create quite a lot of toppling force!).
As we would expect from Equinox, the Switchblade offers a variety of operational modes. It comes pre-programmed with 16 user-selectable ‘auto’ lightshows, which can be either setup to run at a set speed or triggered by an internal microphone (with variable sensitivity). These can run on a single fixture, but can also be used to synchronise two or more units, connected via DMX cables, in a Master/Slave configuration. A choice of two different ‘slave’ modes allow two sets of fixtures to carry out different, but complementary, movements and colour changes. This is a great way to quickly and easily integrate Switchblades into a mobile DJ setup to great effect.
However, to really make use of the creative potential and ‘two-in-one’ functionality of the Switchblade, DMX control is really a must. For this, the unit offers a choice of four different DMX channel modes (2, 15, 23 or 48), allowing you to choose the one that fits with your preferred level of control flexibility and the number of channels available on your DMX controller or software solution. The basic 2-channel option simply allows remote selection of the internal pre-programmed shows and the related speed / sound sensitivity settings. Meanwhile, the 48-channel option provides full movement control as well as individual mixing for each beam and LED wash section, allowing the creation of custom eye candy and beam chase effects.
Mode selection, DMX addressing and customisation of various operating parameters is facilitated by a large backlit LCD display on the front of the unit’s base. Four push buttons allow navigation through a very intuitive menu system, featuring unabbreviated text, that means you’ll probably never need to look at the fixture’s manual when getting it setup. That said, if you do need to resort to reading the instructions, the included booklet is very comprehensive and well-written.
One point to be aware of is that the designers of this fixture have opted for the 5-pin DMX sockets prevalent on more pro-level lighting fixtures in place of the 3-pin connections more common on DJ lighting. This isn’t really a problem, as the signal is the same, and 3-pin to 5-pin converters are readily and cheaply available. Just don’t get caught out by ordering the wrong cables or rocking up to a gig without the converter you need to hook up the lights to the 3-pin output from you DMX controller!
Power is provided by locking PowerCON sockets, which once were only found on higher-end pro lighting fixtures but are now increasingly becoming the norm in the mobile DJ world too. In addition to the input socket there is also an output socket, which allows the power supply for two or more Switchblade units to be daisy-chained together.
Combining potent wash/strobe and striking beam effects into one versatile fixture, the Switchblade is a really interesting option for the creative mobile DJ looking to put together a distinctive lightshow. As you might have guessed, this isn’t a cheap fixture, but it certainly isn’t outside of the realms of possibility for those running bigger shows for larger events with decent budgets. Two, four or even six of these, with a bit of nifty DMX programming, could be used to create a stunning and flexible mobile lighting rig that works just as well for a wedding first dance as a high energy dance set.
The full review can be found in Pro Mobile Issue 100, Pages 78-80.
