We recently visited the showroom of PRASE, the distributer of Elation products in Italy, to see and touch the brand new Proteus Rayzor Blade series of automated LED bars, in 1m L and 0.5m S versions, both with IP65 rating.
With this product, that we could see for the first time in action on the Live You Play stage at MIR 2023 in Rimini, the American company “raises the bar”, adding to the tilting system and the powerful beam two white LED lines for strobe effects and the original SparkLED system. But let’s take it one step at a time.
THE PRODUCT
The Proteus Rayzor Blade shows up solid and reliable, in a housing that is essential but gives a feeling of robustness. On the rear side you find DMX and RJ45 I/O connectors, placed at the ends to facilitate sequential fixture setup, and the power connector.
The colour touch display, located on the front side of the fixture, is large and extremely intuitive, thanks also to the 6 buttons that actually facilitate navigation.
Proteus Rayzor Blade features no less than 3 different sources, each with its own particularity, which in fact increase the fixture’s usability and flexibility.
The main source consists of 6 (S version) or 12 (L version) individually controllable Osram RGBW LEDs divided into two zoom arrays. The two arrays positioned above and below the main source consist of 128 (S) and 250 (L) 1 W white LEDs, also with the possibility of individual pixel control.
Proteus Rayzor Blade L
But the real special feature is in the third source, consisting of 24 (S) and 48 (L) 2 W LEDs also with pixel control, called SparkLED. These are four chips positioned at the ends of each of the 12 or 24 primary RGBW LEDs, which allow for an additional layer of effects. All in all, a simple yet impressive solution.
Proteus Rayzor Blade S
Features include a tilt function up to 192°, motorised zoom with two sectors for the L version and one sector for the S version, precise and consistent 16-bit colour mixing on the main source, linear 16bit CTC 2700 K- 8000K and 4 DMX modes (28,76,140 and188 channels).
SPECIFICATIONS
Source:
Rayzor Blade L:
12 x 60W Osram RGBW LED with Pixel Control
48 x 2W WHite SparkLED™ with Pixel Control
250 x 1W LED Strobo bianchi with Pixel Control
Rayzor Blade S:
6 x 60W OSRAM RGBW LED with Pixel Control
24 x 2W SparkLED™ Effect with Pixel Control
128 x 1W white LED Strobo with Pixel Control
Photometric Data
Output (RGBW): 11,000 Total Lumen
CRI: 80
Zoom Range: 6° – 45°
Colortemperature SparkLED: 4000K
Colortemperature Strobe Line: 6500K
Control/Connections:
4 DMX Channel Modes (28/76/140/188 channels)
Pixel controlled Wash, SparkLED and Strobe LED
210° Tilt Movement
DMX Adjustable Refresh Rate (900 -25000 Hz)
(6) Button Touch Panel
Full Color 180° Reversible LCD Menu Display
RDM Support
IP65 5pin XLR DMX In/Out
IP65 RJ45 Ethernet In/Out (Art-Net, sACN)
IP65 Locking Power Cable In
Effects:
Motorized Zoom
Linear Color Temperature Presets (2700-8000K)
RGBW Color Mixing and Pixel Control
White SparkLED Lens Effect
Dual White Strobe Lines (128 pixels per side)
Color Presets and Macros
Electronic Strobe and Variable Dimming Curves
16-bit Dimming
Electrical / Thermal
AC 100-240V 50/60Hz
1400W Max Power Consumption
Size /Weight:
Proteus Rayzor Blade L:
Length: 39.5 in (1004mm)
Width (Base): 7.6 in (194mm)
Width (Head): 6.1 in (155mm)
Height (head up): 13.2 in (336mm)
Height (head 90 degree): 11.3in (288mm)
Weight: 72.7 lbs. (33kg)
Proteus Rayzor Blade S:
Length: 19.8 in (504mm)
Width (Base): 7.6 in (194mm)
Width (Head): 6.1 in (155mm)
Height (head up): 13.2 in (336mm)
Height (head 90 degree): 11.3in (288mm)
Weight: 39.4 lbs. (17.9kg)
THE FIELD TEST
Prase, distributor of Elation products for the Italian territory, made its showroom available to test two Proteus Rayzor Blade L and S LED bars.
Once the first locate was performed, we went to check the quality of the whites and the mixing system. OSRAM remains a guarantee in this respect, capable of rendering colours consistent with what is the habitual use for an LED bar. The fixture also offers a series of macro-colours to facilitate programming work, while the CTC offers a well-defined range from warm white to cold white in 100k steps.
The SparkLED effect is original and extremely creative. In the standard DXM mode, pixel and pixel plus modes, you can call up effect presets and control the speed of the effects. In this way it is possible to create waves, ramps, step waves or chases of different types thanks to the 100 effects available. In extended mode, instead, it is possible to map individual chips with the various pixel mappings in different lighting consoles or with software such as Madrix. Pixel-to-pixel mapping, as mentioned above, is available for all three fixture sources.
The same goes for the two StroboLines which, in more contained modes, you can call up a whole series of effects by also determining the number of pixels per step, the direction of the effect, the speed and more.
All in all, programming both in extended mode (once the pixel pattern has been set) and in the more simplified modes is practical and fast and places no limits to imagination, especially when combining the three sources with each other.
Finally, the tilt movement of the bar is fluid and precise, with well-defined beams and a pleasant blade effect with the narrow zoom. Very practical in the L version is the zoom divided into two sectors in order to increase the possibilities of using the bar.
CONCLUSIONS
‘Playing’ with the Elation Proteus Rayzor Blade was pure fun. Three different source types combined with the movement and various features of the bar could have made programming complicated. On the contrary, the well-designed DMX modes make it much easier to use the fixture even when working with 188 channels.
SparkLED used on its own or in combination with Osram RGBW sources, give that extra touch of originality that allows you to work on further levels of creativity: from a simple glow, to the entry of white on a coloured base as a special gold effect on the main source.
During the last MIR in Rimini, we had the opportunity to see the Rayzors in action on the Live You Play stage. We asked Massimo Tomasino, LD author of the lighting design, for a brief comment on the fixtures.
“The Proteus Rayzor Blade really left me speechless. I had a lot of fun using its combinations. Used as the main visible element, it is a great product! It can be used as a linear wash, but also as a moving LED bar with effects given by the use of individual LEDs. Personally, I chose to position them frontally to form a striking scenography.
The zoom from 6 to 45 degrees is fantastic. Used at minimum you get real blades of light, while with the zoom fully open I was amazed as it does not lose any brightness at all. Furthermore, the pre-set pixel effects are very interesting.
Another treat is the SparkLED located inside the individual lenses. It is like having an additional bar with an independent dimmer. Finally, the two strobe lines give a great emphasis to the visual effects.
Nowadays a creative person looks for multi-purpose fixtures to give a different touch to his or her lighting and stage show, the Razor Blade succeeds in meeting all requirements. Not least the possibility of outdoor use thanks to its IP65 protection rating”.
Info: www.prase.it
Info: www.elationlighting.com
Walter Lutzu, Patrizia Stella De Masi – main testers
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