Oct. 31, 2025
FUTURETECH Featuring ETC - ETC's MegaPix and GigaPix Break Down
Chris and Lacy dissect ETC's new MegaPix and GigaPix pixel wash fixtures, exploring their striking optical performance, color science, rugged weatherproofing, and the impact on concert lighting. Get a quick, thorough look at what makes these fixtures stand out indoors and out.
1
00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:22,640
All right, folks, welcome back
to another episode of Geezers of
2
00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:26,000
Gear.
Future Tech Chris here, And as
3
00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:27,840
always, Lacey's keeping me
honest.
4
00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:30,680
On the other mic.
Today we're digging into ET, CS,
5
00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:34,040
New Megapix and Gigapix, and
I'll just say straight away,
6
00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:36,640
these things are not your old
school fresnels.
7
00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:39,000
Yeah.
I mean, I know a bit about
8
00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:42,440
Fresnels, mostly from hauling
dusty old ones around for years,
9
00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:45,680
honestly.
But this IFL system, the
10
00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:48,560
integrated Fresnel lens, it's
not just a marketing line,
11
00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:50,200
right?
No, not at all.
12
00:00:50,480 --> 00:00:53,560
The IFL is really clever.
It's a segmented lens system, so
13
00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:56,240
you get that proper smooth edge
to edge projection.
14
00:00:56,600 --> 00:00:59,560
All the goodness of a classic
Fresnel, but with real power for
15
00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:05,040
modern stages and the zoom. 4.5°
to 50° wide on the Megapix and
16
00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:08,440
up to 55° on the Gigapix.
You're getting a crazy flexible
17
00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:10,840
wash range.
Let's drop the numbers quick for
18
00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:13,320
folks.
So Megapix clocks in at what,
19
00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:16,040
10,000 lumens and weighs just
over 9 kilos?
20
00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:20,120
That's spot on. 9.2 kilograms if
we're being precise.
21
00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:24,800
And yeah, 10,000 lumens.
Then Gigapix is the beefier big
22
00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:28,960
sibling, 15 kilos and it pops
out 17,000 lumens.
23
00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:32,440
So you can really scale
depending on venue size or how
24
00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:36,560
dramatic you need your washes.
Both hit that 4.5° tight beam,
25
00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:39,800
but Gigapix has a touch wider
Max zoom at 55.
26
00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:44,280
This new IFL lens on the Megapix
and Gigapix specifically built
27
00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:47,640
to stop that fogging so your
beams actually stay sharp show
28
00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:50,360
after show.
So let's talk about this RGBL
29
00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:53,000
engine and the colour range.
Yeah, it's night and day,
30
00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:56,360
honestly.
ETC whipped up this 2000 to
31
00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:58,480
10,000 Kelvin color temp
channel.
32
00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:01,480
And I mean, you can run the
whole spectrum without losing
33
00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:04,160
intensity.
Never dips under 80%.
34
00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:07,160
Plus, because it's built by
their color scientists, you're
35
00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:11,680
scoring AP1TM30 rating, which
basically means any color you
36
00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:14,640
mix is beautiful to the eye all
the way down the channel.
37
00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:19,480
All right, TMI moment when I
hear TM 30 my brain just folds.
38
00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:22,480
But from what I remember from a
previous episode, that's like
39
00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:25,040
the gold standard for how good a
color looks, right?
40
00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:28,160
You got it.
Think of it as does this look
41
00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:31,640
good for real people and on
camera And with these the answer
42
00:02:31,640 --> 00:02:33,760
is yes.
The real win is how they
43
00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:37,120
engineered the dimming too.
Super smooth so you don't see
44
00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:39,080
steps or flicker as you fade in
and out.
45
00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:42,160
If you care about seamless
transitions or video, that
46
00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:45,120
matters a ton.
What about the effects stuff?
47
00:02:45,640 --> 00:02:48,400
I saw macros and cell control
and it lost me a bit.
48
00:02:48,920 --> 00:02:50,480
Is that just for pixel mapping
or?
49
00:02:50,920 --> 00:02:53,440
It's way more versatile than
just pixel mapping.
50
00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:57,000
The inclusive macros are ready
made color runs, or you can use
51
00:02:57,000 --> 00:02:59,480
flex macros if you want to build
your own looks.
52
00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:04,280
And then every single pixel face
can be run modularly via Arnet
53
00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:07,360
or SACN so you get wild detail
if you want it.
54
00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:10,880
There's this Halo graphic pixel
definition trick.
55
00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:14,600
Basically it gives each face a
diffused outline so your pixel
56
00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:17,760
effects don't look harsh.
Sort of a soft focus border
57
00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:20,200
between cells and it really pops
on stage.
58
00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:24,280
Honestly, if calibration holds
up, like if what you program on
59
00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:28,480
one fixture matches across
dozens, I can see LDS finally
60
00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:31,560
breathing easy.
That's a massive headache on big
61
00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:33,960
arena tours, especially if
you're out for months and have
62
00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:37,320
dozens of units.
Anything that saves them time,
63
00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:40,000
grief, or bland looking washes
is an upgrade in my book.
64
00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:42,840
Absolutely.
And it's that consistency.
65
00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:46,760
No more guessing or compensating
for colour drift show after
66
00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:48,880
show.
That's something we talked about
67
00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:51,480
when looking at the F Drive RX a
few episodes back.
68
00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:53,640
Actually.
Control systems are finally
69
00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:55,360
catching up with designer
demands.
70
00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:59,760
Right, so colour dimming,
effects, it all feels pretty set
71
00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:03,400
up for the realities of what
crews wrestle with in the field
72
00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:05,400
now.
But Speaking of realities,
73
00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:08,720
sometimes the gig is in a field,
sometimes it's in a theatre,
74
00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:13,160
sometimes it's wherever there's
power and a stage.
75
00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:16,640
That flexibility brings us to
what I'm most curious about.
76
00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:19,160
All right, explain the IP 44
thing to me.
77
00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:22,880
IP54 means these are protected
against dust and water splashes
78
00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:25,560
from all directions.
It's not fully waterproof like
79
00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:29,600
IP65, but for anything short of
a hurricane, you're golden.
80
00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:34,080
For summer theatre, open air,
concerts, festivals, this rating
81
00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:36,960
means you're not scrambling to
bag your fixtures every time the
82
00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:40,240
weather turns sketchy.
It really frees up your design
83
00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:43,840
choices when you're not panicked
about your gear shorting out in
84
00:04:43,840 --> 00:04:47,040
the rain.
What I love is the IFL system
85
00:04:47,280 --> 00:04:50,880
even makes maintenance easier
since there's less fogging and
86
00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:53,440
dust inside and you don't need a
special vacuum seal.
87
00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:56,880
When you open these up, you just
clean, close and go.
88
00:04:57,160 --> 00:05:00,480
That's fast Turn around.
And ETC support actually lives
89
00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:04,400
up to the hype right 24/7 every
day of the year, plus those long
90
00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:07,280
warranties.
Yep, 2 year warranty for the
91
00:05:07,280 --> 00:05:11,000
fixture, five years for the
LED's heart and someone always
92
00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:14,680
picks up the phone that's not
some during business hours only
93
00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:16,760
kind of deal.
Likewise, Chris.
94
00:05:16,840 --> 00:05:19,160
Thanks for listening everyone.
We'll catch you on the next one.
95
00:05:35,280 --> 00:05:38,480
Music to your ears.
Hey, hey, hey.
96
00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:44,160
Let's go.
New gear vibes, new tech jive
97
00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:49,640
gearheads unite.
We keep it live.
00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:22,640
All right, folks, welcome back
to another episode of Geezers of
2
00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:26,000
Gear.
Future Tech Chris here, And as
3
00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:27,840
always, Lacey's keeping me
honest.
4
00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:30,680
On the other mic.
Today we're digging into ET, CS,
5
00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:34,040
New Megapix and Gigapix, and
I'll just say straight away,
6
00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:36,640
these things are not your old
school fresnels.
7
00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:39,000
Yeah.
I mean, I know a bit about
8
00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:42,440
Fresnels, mostly from hauling
dusty old ones around for years,
9
00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:45,680
honestly.
But this IFL system, the
10
00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:48,560
integrated Fresnel lens, it's
not just a marketing line,
11
00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:50,200
right?
No, not at all.
12
00:00:50,480 --> 00:00:53,560
The IFL is really clever.
It's a segmented lens system, so
13
00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:56,240
you get that proper smooth edge
to edge projection.
14
00:00:56,600 --> 00:00:59,560
All the goodness of a classic
Fresnel, but with real power for
15
00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:05,040
modern stages and the zoom. 4.5°
to 50° wide on the Megapix and
16
00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:08,440
up to 55° on the Gigapix.
You're getting a crazy flexible
17
00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:10,840
wash range.
Let's drop the numbers quick for
18
00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:13,320
folks.
So Megapix clocks in at what,
19
00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:16,040
10,000 lumens and weighs just
over 9 kilos?
20
00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:20,120
That's spot on. 9.2 kilograms if
we're being precise.
21
00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:24,800
And yeah, 10,000 lumens.
Then Gigapix is the beefier big
22
00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:28,960
sibling, 15 kilos and it pops
out 17,000 lumens.
23
00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:32,440
So you can really scale
depending on venue size or how
24
00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:36,560
dramatic you need your washes.
Both hit that 4.5° tight beam,
25
00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:39,800
but Gigapix has a touch wider
Max zoom at 55.
26
00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:44,280
This new IFL lens on the Megapix
and Gigapix specifically built
27
00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:47,640
to stop that fogging so your
beams actually stay sharp show
28
00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:50,360
after show.
So let's talk about this RGBL
29
00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:53,000
engine and the colour range.
Yeah, it's night and day,
30
00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:56,360
honestly.
ETC whipped up this 2000 to
31
00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:58,480
10,000 Kelvin color temp
channel.
32
00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:01,480
And I mean, you can run the
whole spectrum without losing
33
00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:04,160
intensity.
Never dips under 80%.
34
00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:07,160
Plus, because it's built by
their color scientists, you're
35
00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:11,680
scoring AP1TM30 rating, which
basically means any color you
36
00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:14,640
mix is beautiful to the eye all
the way down the channel.
37
00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:19,480
All right, TMI moment when I
hear TM 30 my brain just folds.
38
00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:22,480
But from what I remember from a
previous episode, that's like
39
00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:25,040
the gold standard for how good a
color looks, right?
40
00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:28,160
You got it.
Think of it as does this look
41
00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:31,640
good for real people and on
camera And with these the answer
42
00:02:31,640 --> 00:02:33,760
is yes.
The real win is how they
43
00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:37,120
engineered the dimming too.
Super smooth so you don't see
44
00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:39,080
steps or flicker as you fade in
and out.
45
00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:42,160
If you care about seamless
transitions or video, that
46
00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:45,120
matters a ton.
What about the effects stuff?
47
00:02:45,640 --> 00:02:48,400
I saw macros and cell control
and it lost me a bit.
48
00:02:48,920 --> 00:02:50,480
Is that just for pixel mapping
or?
49
00:02:50,920 --> 00:02:53,440
It's way more versatile than
just pixel mapping.
50
00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:57,000
The inclusive macros are ready
made color runs, or you can use
51
00:02:57,000 --> 00:02:59,480
flex macros if you want to build
your own looks.
52
00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:04,280
And then every single pixel face
can be run modularly via Arnet
53
00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:07,360
or SACN so you get wild detail
if you want it.
54
00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:10,880
There's this Halo graphic pixel
definition trick.
55
00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:14,600
Basically it gives each face a
diffused outline so your pixel
56
00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:17,760
effects don't look harsh.
Sort of a soft focus border
57
00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:20,200
between cells and it really pops
on stage.
58
00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:24,280
Honestly, if calibration holds
up, like if what you program on
59
00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:28,480
one fixture matches across
dozens, I can see LDS finally
60
00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:31,560
breathing easy.
That's a massive headache on big
61
00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:33,960
arena tours, especially if
you're out for months and have
62
00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:37,320
dozens of units.
Anything that saves them time,
63
00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:40,000
grief, or bland looking washes
is an upgrade in my book.
64
00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:42,840
Absolutely.
And it's that consistency.
65
00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:46,760
No more guessing or compensating
for colour drift show after
66
00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:48,880
show.
That's something we talked about
67
00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:51,480
when looking at the F Drive RX a
few episodes back.
68
00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:53,640
Actually.
Control systems are finally
69
00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:55,360
catching up with designer
demands.
70
00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:59,760
Right, so colour dimming,
effects, it all feels pretty set
71
00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:03,400
up for the realities of what
crews wrestle with in the field
72
00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:05,400
now.
But Speaking of realities,
73
00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:08,720
sometimes the gig is in a field,
sometimes it's in a theatre,
74
00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:13,160
sometimes it's wherever there's
power and a stage.
75
00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:16,640
That flexibility brings us to
what I'm most curious about.
76
00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:19,160
All right, explain the IP 44
thing to me.
77
00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:22,880
IP54 means these are protected
against dust and water splashes
78
00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:25,560
from all directions.
It's not fully waterproof like
79
00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:29,600
IP65, but for anything short of
a hurricane, you're golden.
80
00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:34,080
For summer theatre, open air,
concerts, festivals, this rating
81
00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:36,960
means you're not scrambling to
bag your fixtures every time the
82
00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:40,240
weather turns sketchy.
It really frees up your design
83
00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:43,840
choices when you're not panicked
about your gear shorting out in
84
00:04:43,840 --> 00:04:47,040
the rain.
What I love is the IFL system
85
00:04:47,280 --> 00:04:50,880
even makes maintenance easier
since there's less fogging and
86
00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:53,440
dust inside and you don't need a
special vacuum seal.
87
00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:56,880
When you open these up, you just
clean, close and go.
88
00:04:57,160 --> 00:05:00,480
That's fast Turn around.
And ETC support actually lives
89
00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:04,400
up to the hype right 24/7 every
day of the year, plus those long
90
00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:07,280
warranties.
Yep, 2 year warranty for the
91
00:05:07,280 --> 00:05:11,000
fixture, five years for the
LED's heart and someone always
92
00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:14,680
picks up the phone that's not
some during business hours only
93
00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:16,760
kind of deal.
Likewise, Chris.
94
00:05:16,840 --> 00:05:19,160
Thanks for listening everyone.
We'll catch you on the next one.
95
00:05:35,280 --> 00:05:38,480
Music to your ears.
Hey, hey, hey.
96
00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:44,160
Let's go.
New gear vibes, new tech jive
97
00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:49,640
gearheads unite.
We keep it live.