Gear Reviews Discussions - TheatreFace

Vectorworks 2012 Review

2011-11-21T03:03:57.642Z

Hello all you drafters, designers, and plot-makers! As you may know, Vectorworks 2012 has been released, the latest version of Nemetschek's CAD program. Over the next few weeks, we'll be taking a look at the new features available, answering your questions about the software, and letting you know how it runs. David K H Elliott will be your guide through the software. Elliott is a designer and educator in the Bay Area who's eminently familiar with Vectorworks. He wrote our review of the 2011 version, and you can read his first dispatch about the 2012 version below!

Read up, then go ahead and ask any questions you have about the design software!

Clear-Com HME DX210 Wireless Headset System

2011-11-07T21:12:33.772Z

Greetings all!

We are preparing to check out Clear-Com's HME DX210 wireless headset system here at ASF.

It will be an interesting integration test, as our hard wire system is an RTS unit, and our in house wireless are Radio Comm. According to the product information, we should be good to go with the mash in of a button. This is what Clear Com has to say on their website: The HME DX210 offers the perfect blend of wireless intercom performance, system compatibility with wired intercom systems, and ease of use.

Well... We're about to find out! We'll see how the HME ties in!

They also say: Operating in the 2.4GHz band, the DX210 delivers exceptional sound clarity and enables interference-free communication for highly demanding productions.

We'll see about that too!

Four our product test, we have the BS210 base station:

Three HME BP 210:

(Which I will say, right out of the gate is compact and light weight. The pack fits in the palm of my hand... and I have little hands, so that's saying something. In a later installments, I'll include a photo with my hand or other items to give you an idea of scale.)

The belt back doesn't have a hard-installed belt clip. Instead, Clear Com offers a belt pack pouch (sold separately) that provides both protection for the pack, and a belt clip. The pouch is made from a thick rubber, and appears to be shock absorbent and durable.

This week my crew will be setting up the system to see how easy it is to integrate, as well as testing the system with our existing wireless and wired intercom systems, as well as checking out the systems range, features, etc.

Any questions you have? Curious about a specific range of circumstances? Ask! I'll do my best to answer or test as you desire!

Cheers cats and kittens! Until next time!

~Richelle Thompson

PreSonus StudioLive 24.4.2 System

2011-08-22T00:54:01.952Z

More gear reviews! From now until the end of September Jon Taylor will be following up his PreSonus StudioLive 24.4.2 digital mixer review with in-depth blogging on the mixer and the free software that accompanies it. Ever wonder how to mix from an iPad? How to get a mixer and computer to record rehearsals, then play those tracks back during a different rehearsal to help out your cast? Here's the place!

Jon Taylor is a live sound mixer and an enlisted man in the Air Force. You can read a quick intro from him here -- and don't let his modesty fool you. While he may not be specifically focused on stage work he's worked on productions for local schools and community theatres, and he knows how to mix for the stage. He also know just about everything there is to know about the mixer. So dive in to the review below and don't be afraid to ask Jon questions about how the mixer works and can help you out.

Mega-Lite Enlighten Stage Lighing Software and Control Wing

2011-06-24T22:36:56.210Z

Time for another product to enter the testing chamber! Mega-Lite's Enlighten Control Wing is the latest subject for the group review process here on TheatreFace.com. It's a 0, 1, or 2 universe DMX lighting control surface designed to be used with Enlighten Stage Lighting Controller software.

Our intrepid tester this time around is once again Stephen Ellison, and all through the month of July he'll be testing out the desk, putting it through its paces and answering your questions about the unit. Want to know more about the unit? Go ahead and ask!

JBL EON 210P Complete Portable PA System

2011-05-13T23:44:57.663Z

I saw the JBL EON 210P rig at NAMM for the first time, and I immediately thought it would be great for our audience. It's a "speaker on a stick" system, with integrated amps and an 8-channel mixer. It's rated at 300 watts and has max SPL of 124 dB peak system output. On the other hand -- the whole system only weight 33 pounds (19 lbs. for unit with powered mixer, 14 lbs. for unit with storage pod).

For the new few weeks, our faithful blogger Richelle Thompson will be taking the speakers out, using them and running tests. So what do you want to know about 'em? Richelle's taking them on their first gig the weekend of May 14 -- so get in your questions, and come back to check out the results!

GAM Go-Lite Cue Light Solution

2011-04-18T04:49:09.595Z

Time for another product to enter the testing chamber! Joe Tawil at GAM Products has graciously sent us his new cue lighting solution system--the GAM Go-Lite--for us to try out in our interactive gear review. The Go-Lite is a four-color, easily-installed cue lighting solution that aims to be simple and safe. Our intrepid tester Stephen Ellison has a unit at his theatre now, and will be writing about it here until the end of April. So, if you have any questions about the Go-Lite, and how it works, here's the place!

And if you want more info directly from the manufacturer, here's the product page for the Go-Lite on GAMOnline.

MDG Ice Fog Q Fog Generator

2011-03-07T04:54:33.403Z

Starting Monday, March 7, and running all through the month of March, Stephen Ellison will be field testing an MDG Ice Fog Q. The Ice Fog Q uses liquid CO2 to generate low-lying fog. MDG touts it as producing “maximum low lying fog with zero residue.” Well, this month, we find out if that’s true or not! Stephen has the unit, and is using it during a production that goes into tech March 7, so you’re in a perfect position to find out how the unit works in a show environment. Questions about fog? Ask ‘em now!

COLORado Batten 72 TOUR

2011-01-28T17:43:34.303Z

Starting Feb. 1, and running all month, Stephen Ellison will be testing and reviewing the Chauvet COLORado Batten 72 TOUR linear wash feature. (More generally referred to as a cyc light -- among its other uses.) You can see a picture of it on the left. Stephen will weight in with his first impressions, and run some tests -- but, as always, the real review comes from you guys. What do you want to see it do? How would you like to see it perform? Let Stephen know here!

Take it away, Stephen!

SeaChanger Tungsten Wash and Nemo Wash

2010-10-27T22:35:16.515Z

Interactive Gear Reviews return on TheatreFace.com!

This time around we've got a side-be-side comparison of the SeaChanger Tungsten Wash (left), and the SeaChanger Nemo Wash (right).

Below is the preliminary review that ran in the November issue of Stage Directions magazine. Starting Nov. 1, come back and ask questions, request further tests, and help our team push these units to their limits. Beam width? Color temperatures? Dimming curves? Ask away! We'll get you as close to the unit as we possibly can.

TM-125C Stage-Floor Microphone

2010-04-30T19:53:52.794Z

We're going to be taking a look (and a listen) to the TM-125C Supercardioid Condenser Stage-Floor Microphone from Bartlett Microphones. Starting this Monday (5/3/10) I'll be putting up some images fo the microphone and relaying some information off the data sheet.

In the meantime, post any idea that you might have on things you'd like to know more about the microphone or tests that I or my sound geek friends might run for you.

Much more soon.