Ayrton has announced the release of Falconer, a new, high-performance remote followspot system designed to feel like a real followspot, with full ergonomics and a natural haptic feel.
Falconer was born from a single ambition: to reinvent the art of followspotting, free the operator from its constraints and deliver unprecedented comfort.
Designed to retain the natural, responsive feel of a traditional followspot, Falconer removes the need for the operator to be at the fixture position. It relies instead on a camera rigged where it provides the clearest view of the stage, so the operator can be in the most convenient and comfortable position for every design, whatever the configuration of the venue.
Created with the same level of precision and attention to detail as every Ayrton fixture, Falconer combines a broadcast-style fluid head with a camera-based workflow, giving operators direct, instantaneous control of moving lights from a dedicated base station.
Falconer uses a camera mounted on a compatible Ayrton fixture, such as EagleStrike, which gives the operator the best view of the stage. Alternatively, a separate Ayrton Horus camera – released alongside Falconer – can be used to integrate the system into any lighting rig.
Falconer’s construct features two ergonomic handles that fit comfortably in the hands for precise, fluid movement in every direction. Its large 18.5-inch Full HD touchscreen monitor reproduces every detail of the stage with exceptional clarity. Customisable buttons and faders keep every essential control within easy reach of the operator without taking the hands off the handles.
User-definable presets containing any combination of parameters can be assigned to preset buttons on the handles and touchscreen for easy recall of looks and/or positions. Presets can include fade-in and fade-out times, and can be set to Hold, Fade Out or Snap to Zero when deactivated.
Falconer’s ultra responsive control delivers instantaneous response, in harmony with the operator’s anticipation and interaction with the stage in real time, whether the trajectories are fast or slow. The quality of construction and carefully selected materials ensure perfect stability, so every movement remains smooth and controlled. An infrared mode keeps performers clearly in view even in extremely low-light conditions.
A single Falconer base station can control multiple fixtures, with up to 36 active fixtures recommended for optimal system performance. The system supports both autonomous operation and integration with a lighting console, while its 3D calibration system allows multiple fixtures to track the same point in space, with the designer able to choose which ones follow the action.
Falconer’s intuitive 3D calibration establishes the position of each fixture in space using just four reference points, so multiple fixtures can track the same performer in perfect synchronisation, leaving the operator free to choreograph breathtaking movements across the whole rig.
Ayrton has created Horus, a freestanding compact camera fixture that opens up the Falconer system to any manufacturer’s lighting rig. Built into the housing of the Ayrton MagicDot Neo, Horus is small, lightweight and fast, weighing just 6.7kg, and can be installed easily. Both Falconer and Horus operate as standalone solutions or alongside a lighting console.
ayrton.eu
Australian Distributor: Show Technology showtech.com.au
