Melbourne’s MPH Australia having been serving the lighting and video needs of major tours and installations out of their Preston, Victoria HQ since 2005. Part Creative Practice and part Hire and Production Company, Matt Hansen heads up a team that has worked on more major tours and events than he would care to bore you with. Always on the lookout for the new and exciting in lighting, MPH recently took delivery of multiple SHAPESHIFTER C1 multifaceted moving head LED beam fixtures from High End Systems’ Australian distributor Lexair Entertainment.
With 126 Cree XPE 2 LEDs built into seven individually controllable facets, the SHAPESHIFTER is a totally unique fixture capable of mind-bending beam effects. “I first saw them at ProLight and Sound in Frankfurt and they really caught my eye,” said Matt. “They’re so cool! I think the individual tilting heads within the head are a great feature.” While allowing designers an amazing amount of control in full mode, almost 150 macros are available for quick results when time is an issue.
As soon as MPH had the SHAPESHIFTERs in stock, they all left for their first gig. “They were straight in, straight out,” Matt was pleased to report. “They’re a unique looking fixture with high output that suits a demand. We’ve already had a couple of specs come through with them on it so we have to fulfil that demand.” Accompanied by a High End Systems Hog 4 console, the C1s were soon in the hands of lighting design, programming and operation company Colourblind, touring Australia with the DJ phenomenon that is Hot Dub Time Machine.
Matthew Smith, Lighting Designer at Colourblind put the show together for Hot Dub Time Machine, the creation of Sydney DJ Tom Loud. Hot Dub takes audiences on a chronological AV tour through dance music, starting in the 60s and pressing through to today. It’s established a global cult following.
“The act wanted something new and innovative that no-one had seen before,” explained Matthew. “We showed him videos of the SHAPESHIFTER online and suggested we use them on the tour. We’ve got four C1s on each side of the screen in macro mode. They’re an integral part of the show and are used from start to finish. Not that they should be pigeonholed, but they’re a great product for dance music.”
Nicholas Beachen, Lighting Director and Programmer at Colourblind is out on the road with the fixtures, wowing audiences with their flexibility and high output.
“I’m using the SHAPESHIFTERs as my main effects lights,” Nick reported. “I’m very impressed with their output, even in deep colours they’re very punchy. The built-in macros are a really quick and easy way to build punchy effects.”
The SHAPESHIFTER’s seven individually moving facets enable Nick to create completely original effects perfect for the show; “I’m getting looks from them I can’t out of anything else,” he continued. “The facets can create moving beams without moving the actual head. Then you can get a totally different look when you get the head moving as well. It’s incredibly dynamic. It’s an exciting time to operate lights!”
Supporting the SHAPESHIFTERs and all High End Systems products in Australia is distributor Lexair Entertainment, based in Sydney and headed up by Alex Mair. “Lexair provide amazing service,” commented MPH’s Matt Hansen. “Alex is always willing to do a good deal and the after sales support has been really good.”
