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REVIEWED
REVIEWED: Abstract XLite Pro
First seen at BPM 2021, the Abstract XLite Pro stood tall at a height of 2m – these pixel poles were something you couldn’t miss. With 30 on display during regular demos of their timecoded light shows, they were quite the crowd puller, though you don’t even need that many to make an impressive show!
The XLite Pro is a 2m tall RGBW (red, green, blue, white) LED pixel pole containing 140 LEDs. These are driven by Abstract’s XDrive units, connected via 4-pin XLR. The XDrive units are an all-in-one solution, providing the power supply, the controller and DMX interface.
The Abstract XLite Pro was initially released as a package with an XDrive Duplicator 4, providing four outputs that all mirror each other, so four individual XLites display the same pattern and effect. After some feedback from our team, Abstract also released an XDrive unit with two outputs that are individually controllable – perfect for DJs! We also recommended a few software tweaks and these were incorporated into a firmware update already uploaded onto the XDrive units.
This is something Abstract have always been good at; they listen to feedback and use it to improve their products. We also asked about extension cables, as two metres weren’t enough for a large job we had. Abstract duly came back with an option to purchase 5m 4-pin XLR extension cables, which meant that each XLite could be up to seven metres away from the XDrive unit. With one of these units in the middle of your setup, it will be possible to place two XLites up to 14 metres apart – more than enough for most situations.
The XLite Pro comes with a ‘tank trap’ base plate, with the light sitting on a spigot with a securing pin that features a sprung mechanism – a quick and simple solution.
You might think a 2m tall yet skinny (30mm diameter) light might be flimsy, but thanks to its aluminium body the XLite Pro is surprisingly strong and stable, especially when connected to the base plate. It stands at 2.05m with the tank trap, fitting in pretty much every venue. The base plate is less than 35cm square so it’s nice and compact, just like the rest of the system. But don’t let its small size fool you, the base plate is solid and sturdy.
So, how do they work?
Once the XLites are attached to their base plates, plugged into the rear of the XDrive units, and power is applied, the unit will automatically start playing through the range of in-built programs. However, the pre-set programs aren’t something we’ve explored in great depth, as we were really keen to get them on DMX to see what we could achieve! The auto mode cycles through a range of in-built programs, but you can also select in-built static colours. A sound-to-light mode has also been added since we ran our test.
On DMX there are three layers to play with – a base layer and two top layers. You can customise each layer to achieve the effect you want. For example, you could set a colour as a background and have two effects running at the same time, or you could have all three layers doing something different – the creativity is all at your fingertips.
Each layer can control:
A range of effects - including wipe, curtain, comet, bounce, pulse, trance, dissolve, flame, candle, rain, expand, sparkle and strobe
Effect Edge - variable from hard to soft (ie in blocks or fading in)
Colour - colour mix using RGBW values or select from the range of colours and rainbow effects on the rainbow channel
Effect speed - variable from slow to fast
Effect duplication - variable from 1-16 duplicates
Dimmer
Sound-to-light effects - (yes, triggered over DMX!)
That may sound like a lot to control but once you’ve played with a few of the effects you’ll quickly realise you can make the XLites do a tonne of unique things.
As mentioned, the XLite Pro has 140 RGBW LEDs in each pole. These are individually driven so you can achieve an amazing array of pixel effects. The LEDs are placed close together and are covered by a frost filter, so the effects look ultra-fine both up close and from a distance. The sparkle effect is incredible, as the LEDs twinkle like a Christmas tree, which looks highly effective with a static background colour. The other good thing about the LEDs being so close together is that you can use the soft-edge function to make them behave in blocks. Go for a hard edge or smooth them out and have extra soft fades on the beginning and ends of the effects. This looks particularly impactful on the comet pattern.
Something we instantly noticed was the brightness of the XLite Pro. It certainly makes a statement – and rightly so, as it needs to cut through the other lighting effects. Although the LEDs may be bright, they aren’t unpleasant or hard to look at thanks to their 160° frost filter. The effects and patterns can be seen clearly among other lights without being overpowering or spilling too much light. And let’s not forget, they can be dimmed if needed. We also loved the rainbow channel – you can achieve some funky effects.
You’ll find the body and matching base plate come in a range of colour options, with white, black, and silver all available. Though to be honest, you won’t really see much of the colour, as the X-Lite Pro’s front is mostly the effect while the base plate is on the floor. For our system, we went with black so it could be hidden nicely on a stage backdrop.
Wireless control is effortless from your mobile using Wi-Fi, whilst the PowerCon True1 In and Link Out connectors make for the easy linking of drivers. I’d imagine most DJs will go for the XDrive Pro 2 and two XLite Pros combination, as it’s affordable yet still allows for expansion later.
Although I love the way the XDrive Duplicator 4 minimises the number of drivers you need. Either way, the choice is completely yours. You’ll find systems advertised in multiples of four but you don’t have to use all of the outputs on the drivers. You could run six XLite Pros from two XDrive Duplicator 4s and have ports with nothing connected, giving you the flexibility to use as many or few XLites in your show as you need.
You can purchase the XLite Pro systems from one of four selected partners around the UK, including Kent Media Group. A two-way system is around £850 (two XLite Pros with two ‘tank trap’ base plates and an XDrive Pro 2). The four-way system is priced from £1,500 (four XLite Pros with four ‘tank trap’ base plates and an XDrive Duplicator 4).
These aren’t cheap products, but they are professional lighting fixtures designed and built in the UK, and there is nothing else like them on the market!
At Kent Media Group, we fell in love with the XLites at BPM – having seen pictures and videos before the show, I knew these were a ‘bit of me’ before I even saw them in the flesh! As they say, seeing is believing and I walked away from BPM with an order placed for an eight-way system with two XDrive Duplicator 4s. They went straight into our setup that same weekend.
The XLite fits right in with our sets; they can be placed pretty much anywhere and they just look like they were meant to be there – especially at my own Star Wars-themed birthday party back in January (looking like giant lightsabers, they really helped set the scene – take a look at the front cover!).
I’m sure we’ll be seeing more XLites in professional DJ setups over the next few years, as pixel-effect lighting cements itself as the next big thing in eye candy for DJs.
The XLite Pro is a 2m tall RGBW (red, green, blue, white) LED pixel pole containing 140 LEDs. These are driven by Abstract’s XDrive units, connected via 4-pin XLR. The XDrive units are an all-in-one solution, providing the power supply, the controller and DMX interface.
The Abstract XLite Pro was initially released as a package with an XDrive Duplicator 4, providing four outputs that all mirror each other, so four individual XLites display the same pattern and effect. After some feedback from our team, Abstract also released an XDrive unit with two outputs that are individually controllable – perfect for DJs! We also recommended a few software tweaks and these were incorporated into a firmware update already uploaded onto the XDrive units.
This is something Abstract have always been good at; they listen to feedback and use it to improve their products. We also asked about extension cables, as two metres weren’t enough for a large job we had. Abstract duly came back with an option to purchase 5m 4-pin XLR extension cables, which meant that each XLite could be up to seven metres away from the XDrive unit. With one of these units in the middle of your setup, it will be possible to place two XLites up to 14 metres apart – more than enough for most situations.
The XLite Pro comes with a ‘tank trap’ base plate, with the light sitting on a spigot with a securing pin that features a sprung mechanism – a quick and simple solution.
You might think a 2m tall yet skinny (30mm diameter) light might be flimsy, but thanks to its aluminium body the XLite Pro is surprisingly strong and stable, especially when connected to the base plate. It stands at 2.05m with the tank trap, fitting in pretty much every venue. The base plate is less than 35cm square so it’s nice and compact, just like the rest of the system. But don’t let its small size fool you, the base plate is solid and sturdy.
So, how do they work?
Once the XLites are attached to their base plates, plugged into the rear of the XDrive units, and power is applied, the unit will automatically start playing through the range of in-built programs. However, the pre-set programs aren’t something we’ve explored in great depth, as we were really keen to get them on DMX to see what we could achieve! The auto mode cycles through a range of in-built programs, but you can also select in-built static colours. A sound-to-light mode has also been added since we ran our test.
On DMX there are three layers to play with – a base layer and two top layers. You can customise each layer to achieve the effect you want. For example, you could set a colour as a background and have two effects running at the same time, or you could have all three layers doing something different – the creativity is all at your fingertips.
Each layer can control:
A range of effects - including wipe, curtain, comet, bounce, pulse, trance, dissolve, flame, candle, rain, expand, sparkle and strobe
Effect Edge - variable from hard to soft (ie in blocks or fading in)
Colour - colour mix using RGBW values or select from the range of colours and rainbow effects on the rainbow channel
Effect speed - variable from slow to fast
Effect duplication - variable from 1-16 duplicates
Dimmer
Sound-to-light effects - (yes, triggered over DMX!)
That may sound like a lot to control but once you’ve played with a few of the effects you’ll quickly realise you can make the XLites do a tonne of unique things.
As mentioned, the XLite Pro has 140 RGBW LEDs in each pole. These are individually driven so you can achieve an amazing array of pixel effects. The LEDs are placed close together and are covered by a frost filter, so the effects look ultra-fine both up close and from a distance. The sparkle effect is incredible, as the LEDs twinkle like a Christmas tree, which looks highly effective with a static background colour. The other good thing about the LEDs being so close together is that you can use the soft-edge function to make them behave in blocks. Go for a hard edge or smooth them out and have extra soft fades on the beginning and ends of the effects. This looks particularly impactful on the comet pattern.
Something we instantly noticed was the brightness of the XLite Pro. It certainly makes a statement – and rightly so, as it needs to cut through the other lighting effects. Although the LEDs may be bright, they aren’t unpleasant or hard to look at thanks to their 160° frost filter. The effects and patterns can be seen clearly among other lights without being overpowering or spilling too much light. And let’s not forget, they can be dimmed if needed. We also loved the rainbow channel – you can achieve some funky effects.
You’ll find the body and matching base plate come in a range of colour options, with white, black, and silver all available. Though to be honest, you won’t really see much of the colour, as the X-Lite Pro’s front is mostly the effect while the base plate is on the floor. For our system, we went with black so it could be hidden nicely on a stage backdrop.
Wireless control is effortless from your mobile using Wi-Fi, whilst the PowerCon True1 In and Link Out connectors make for the easy linking of drivers. I’d imagine most DJs will go for the XDrive Pro 2 and two XLite Pros combination, as it’s affordable yet still allows for expansion later.
Although I love the way the XDrive Duplicator 4 minimises the number of drivers you need. Either way, the choice is completely yours. You’ll find systems advertised in multiples of four but you don’t have to use all of the outputs on the drivers. You could run six XLite Pros from two XDrive Duplicator 4s and have ports with nothing connected, giving you the flexibility to use as many or few XLites in your show as you need.
You can purchase the XLite Pro systems from one of four selected partners around the UK, including Kent Media Group. A two-way system is around £850 (two XLite Pros with two ‘tank trap’ base plates and an XDrive Pro 2). The four-way system is priced from £1,500 (four XLite Pros with four ‘tank trap’ base plates and an XDrive Duplicator 4).
These aren’t cheap products, but they are professional lighting fixtures designed and built in the UK, and there is nothing else like them on the market!
At Kent Media Group, we fell in love with the XLites at BPM – having seen pictures and videos before the show, I knew these were a ‘bit of me’ before I even saw them in the flesh! As they say, seeing is believing and I walked away from BPM with an order placed for an eight-way system with two XDrive Duplicator 4s. They went straight into our setup that same weekend.
The XLite fits right in with our sets; they can be placed pretty much anywhere and they just look like they were meant to be there – especially at my own Star Wars-themed birthday party back in January (looking like giant lightsabers, they really helped set the scene – take a look at the front cover!).
I’m sure we’ll be seeing more XLites in professional DJ setups over the next few years, as pixel-effect lighting cements itself as the next big thing in eye candy for DJs.
The full review can be found in Pro Mobile Issue 112, Pages 88-91.
