ETC Source Four Revolution spotlights were installed at a temporary studio created to host the X Factor New Zealand.

Based on the international X Factor production format owned by Simon Cowell’s SYCO Entertainment, the weekly X Factor New Zealand show is designed and operated by Paul Collison along with Simon Garret at the temporary studio fitted out in a food storage warehouse in South Auckland.

Norwest Oceania Productions supplied the lighting, audio and rigging for the project, which included eight ETC Source Four Revolutions, purchased especially for the X Factor show. The ETC Source Four Revolution is a high performance zoom profile spot equipped with motorised pan, tilt, zoom, on-board dimming, and colour scroll functions.

Norwest Oceania’s General Manager Simon Garrett said he was aware of the light’s capabilities but had underestimated how much fixed lighting they would render obsolete.

He explained that lighting on the fly with a tungsten source used to be a major hassle before; however, the new ETC Source Four spotlights allow them to consider what is possible in real time and accommodate most demands with little compromise, quickly and simply.

The ETC Source Four Revolution’s exclusive QuietDrive motor control offers quiet and accurate performance, which is an advantage in the television studio environment. Garrett comments that the eight ETC Source Four Revolutions have been operating flawlessly for over three months.

The ETC Source Four Revolution’s two module bays accept any two of the four optional beam-control modules, which can be inserted without tools or fixture disassembly. All modules are auto-sensing and require no patching or internal configuration changes to the fixture.

The Shutter and Iris modules along with colour scroll are being used for the X Factor New Zealand show, providing more than enough features for the simple job of lighting on-screen talent. Garrett plans to add more units to the eight Revolutions.

Paul Collison concurs that last season’s X Factor was more difficult to light without automated tungsten fixtures. He explains that it is difficult when the light cannot be simply swung around to where it is needed, especially when new stage positions are added at the last moment. Paul describes the Revolution as being reliable in these situations with responsive and accurate shutters.

He notes that the ETC Source Four Revolution fixtures are easy to use, requiring very little attention and allowing the operators to react much more quickly to new hosting positions as well as many of the performance elements. These lighting fixtures are also capable of washing the stage if needed.

Jands is a leading Australian distributor of professional lighting, sound and staging equipment.