LED Wendy Light and the Inspire MD LED to Replace Tungsten

With new power-conservative models for popular luminaires, Chroma-Q has also added Vista lighting controls to their offerings.

Developed in partnership with MBSi, an “innovations think-tank” from Pinewood MBS Lighting, the Chroma-Q Brute Force is a new RGBW LED alternative to a quarter-Wendy light. “MBSi provides us with a central point from where to share creativity, to innovate and introduce new thinking that can enhance the way we support our clients,” explains PMBS Technical Director Steve Howard in the press release.

“Through our collaboration with Chroma-Q we are proud to have taken this ethos a step further and are committed to sharing our knowledge in a way that can benefit the industry as a whole,” he continues. “In a creative industry we have to offer more than just power saving in the products we are looking to replace. We are delighted with the ability of the Brute Force to combine its comparable output and spread to a quarter-Wendy with the benefits of intelligent, controllable, full colour LED illumination.”

With a draw of only 15 Amps at 240V, technical teams from both companies worked closely to create the LED RGBW lamphead. Fully dimmable, the Brute Force has a robust build based around the 48" Chroma-Q Studio Force II lighting setup, just announced in April at the NAB Show. 

The Brute Force has been tested “rigorously” by Pinewood MBS in a variety of real-world scenarios to ensure optimal functionality for various applications. Using multiple 48" length fixtures from the Studio Force II, it produces high-intensity, tuneable CCT using "homogenized" LEDs for consistency in the wash of light. 

Delivering variable color temperature, RGB color saturation and plus/minus green shift, the Brute Force and Studio Force II fixtures are specifically constructed for broadcast and film productions with PowerCON TRUE1 input and output for daisy-chaining, as well as Chroma-Q’s ColorSure technology to ensure the same color output across all Force fixtures.

In addition to the standard CCT range of the Studio Force II, 2,800K to 6,500K, an extended CCT mode makes the light capable of 2,000K to 10,000K. The unit has 96-way, mappable pixel control through RDM, DMX and optional wireless protocols to generate effects, like fire or lightning. 

There is also an onboard multi-point fixing to connect several Brute Force lights to provide a full Wendy when needed. Though most Pinewood MBS solutions are proprietary, Chroma-Q is offering the Brute Force industry-wide. Pinewood MBS is also recognized by the BAFTA-led Albert Initiative as a supplier supporting an environmentally sustainable future with their energy-efficient products.

“In creating the Brute Force our teams have introduced an incredible new alternative to the traditional Wendy,” explains Chroma-Q’s Global Brand Manager, Paul Pelletier, via press release. “Having MBSi involved in the project has allowed us to design and build a fixture that has been properly tested and proven to perform prior to launch. I am confident that it will be instantly accepted throughout our industry as a versatile, effective light source”

Providing warm white at 3,000K, another lighting solution from Chroma-Q has also been released as low-power alternative to standard tungsten. Utilizing LEDs to better manage running costs as well as bulb life and maintenance, the Chroma-Q Inspire MD LED house light is designed as a replacement for older tungsten fixtures., the lens has.

Designed to be compatible with the same dimming controls as previous tungsten models, the 0-100% curve is smooth with homogenized lens for a uniform wash of light throughout, available in three beam angles, wide, narrow and medium. It’s cooled passively through silent convection. With 240V/50Hz model currectly in development for usage overseas, the Inspire MD starts as a 120V/60Hz model for North America.

In even more news from the company, Chroma-Q also acquired the Vista software and hardware lighting control systems in early June from Australian company Jands. Vista, renamed henceforth as Vista by Chroma-Q, will continue to be offered through A.C. Lighting Inc in North America and A.C. Entertainment Technologies Ltd worldwide.

With timeline and visual interface, the most recent iteration, Vista 3, enhanced the existing feature set while introducing major features, including FX masters, new color engine, improved fixture visualizations, expanded command-line interface, and the ability to merge multiple show-files. 

The Vista 3 release was joined by two new control surfaces, the Vista MV and Vista EX. As entry-level solution or expansion to existing Vista systems, the Vista MV is provided as a cost-effective and compact USB control surface with 5 playback faders, 15 playback buttons, grand master control and 4 user-definable function keys. 

The more advanced Vista EX adds further control capabilities. It has 12 faders, 60 playback buttons per page, 8 encorders, and 12 function buttons. The device has been slimmed to a footprint that qualifies it for carry-on luggage.

A popular product for lighting designers, venues, rental houses, and productions globally, the goal of the purchase for both companies is to improve long-term market support and customer care of the Vista brand while creating a new range of lighting possibilities through mutual “in-house experience in building brilliant solutions.” 

With new talent being added to the team, the software contingent of Vista by Chroma-Q including head developer and assistants will remain in Australia. With several other lighting, audio, and staging solutions, Jands will continue to headquarter there, as well.

Going forward, hardware development and manufacturing as well as R&D engineering, however, will be performed through Chroma-Q in Toronto, Canada. For any questions on the transition, contact Chroma-Q and Jands through email.

Chroma-Q has been a designer of lighting equipment since the mid 1990s. In 2004, they launched their first LED solution, the Color Block DB4. The company’s lights, color changers, gobo systems and lighting effects and controls have been used for film, television broadcasts, live concerts, theatrical venues, retail, brick-and-mortar installations and more.

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