Martin MAC 101s for Rihanna Loud World Tour Production and lighting designer Roy Bennett is using 112 Martin Professional MAC 101 wash lights for R&B singer Rihanna's current Loud world tour, and praises the ultra-small fixture's combination of small size and brightness as important elements in his lighting design. "They have been great," Bennett says, adding that the compact fixture has also been an excellent lighting fixture on Paul McCartney's latest tour, also designed by him. "I love the 101s because of the size, weight, and speed, as well as the light output." The Loud tour kicked off in North America with lighting supplied by Upstaging before legs in South America and Europe. The European leg began on September 29 and extends until the end of the year. A key visual element in Bennett's design is four half-sphere pods on independent motion control that adjust up and down during the show. The face of each pod is made up of an LED screen with 28 MAC 101s mounted behind in four rows. The 101s are used to shoot beams and color through the screen, sometimes on their own or in combination with the video, and at only 8.1lbs is an ideal fit for the pod design. Bennett acknowledges the support he has received from Martin US, especially from Martin product support coordinator Scott O'Conner, who, he says, "always keeps me informed on any and all new developments." Supporting act on the Rihanna tour in Europe is singer-songwriter and producer/DJ, Calvin Harris, who uses a Martin EC-20 LED screen for high quality graphics in his performance. The EC-20 panels are supplied by video services company Picture Works Ltd. of London. 
|
