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New ETC IES Matrix II Sine Wave Dimmers on Tour with The History Boys
Michael Atkinson had already planned a new touring dimmer system for the forthcoming tour of the National Theatre's production of Alan Bennett's The History Boys with Matrix being one option, as it is at the core of the dimming installations in both the National's Cottesloe and Lyttelton theatres. Michael's response to a preview of the latest Matrix II version - which is scheduled to enter full production in 2006 - was an immediate order, providing that the dimmers could be manufactured and delivered in time for the tour at the beginning of October, less than three weeks from official product launch to delivery!
The Matrix II, the latest and most technologically advanced dimming system from ETC's IES brand, supersedes the classic IES Matrix already widely adopted and installed throughout Europe since its introduction in 2000. The National Theatre has extensive experience of Matrix fitted with sine wave technology dimmers, installed in its Cottesloe and Lyttelton Theatres as part of the total lighting refurbishment of its auditoria which began in 1998. Matrix II builds on the ETC and IES heritage and reputation for innovative, advanced SCR and IGBT/sine wave dimming technologies and expands the modular concept to allow for higher density. Now offering a wider choice of dimming modules and protection devices and with extra design upgrades to add functionality and features, Matrix II is expected to have widespread appeal in theatre, TV, concert venues and, of course, touring. The new Matrix II has been developed to expand the system options, providing extra design 'headroom' to increase density and efficiency, offering more power rating options and protection variants by utilising higher performance processors and also integrating more fully with ETC protocols and control systems. Investment in manufacturing tooling and economies of scale has enabled the Matrix brand to continue to be a world leader in both advanced sine wave and SCR dimming systems.
The Matrix II dimmers on tour with The History Boys were configured in two 63-channel flight cases with comprehensive load patching and Ethernet capability, 48 x 2.5kW , 3 x 5kW dimming channels and 12 x 16A non-dim circuits.
Matrix II cabinets are designed to accommodate the new plug-in power modules (44mm taller than previous modules) with space for up to six dimming channels per module. A swing-frame option allows easy access for installation where front access only is available. The maximum cabinet capacity has now increased to 180 channels of 3kW or 120 channels of 5kW, a significant improvement in density compared with the original Matrix which offered a maximum of 144 x 2.5kW, 72 x 5kW or 36 x 10kW (or mixtures of all three dimmer ratings).
The enlarged module size permits rating upgrades from 2.5kW per channel to 3kW for both SCR and sine wave with new sine wave dimmers coming on line in the revised module size in 1250W, 2.3kW, 5kW and 10kW ratings in early 2006.
Thanks to the implementation of faster processors, load sensing incorporated as standard is now dynamically processed throughout the dimming range, ensuring all loads dim with the same visual curve without having to initially register the full-power reference level. The in-built load sensing system measures current to the lamp at full power, and then corrects the dimmer curve to match the different characteristics between, for example, a 5kW lamp and a cluster of LEDs. Matrix II includes all the advanced dimmer monitoring and setup features expected in a high specification system, now including the ability to configure the dimming system through a Web-style browser window, making the process simpler and quicker throughout the network. Although Matrix II is a newly-designed derivative of an established product, and launched at PLASA, it is not a sales prototype. In addition to the National Theatre's touring system, three complete Matrix II SCR dimming systems have already been commissioned in Germany since July.
In picture: the National Theatre production of The History Boys by Alan Bennett, photo: Stephen Cummiskey
1st December 2005
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