Just announced at NAB, Arri Skypanel firmware 4.0 is upon us! Currently available in beta, the new firmware again refreshes a new take on their uber popular fixture by allowing access to a whole new set of features at a price point of $0.00. Arri promised they would upgrade this fixture without forcing you to buy into an entirely new system and they are delivering! The new firmware highlights a ton of new features, but the three most notable are real stand outs.
Complete Control DMX Profile
Arri’s newest DMX profile allows you to combine settings previously available only by switching control modes. The new firmware occupies a larger swatch of channels, but allows you to control the fixture via RGBW, HSI, CCT, G/M, Presets, and FX all within the same DMX operating mode. This is a great addition for those of us looking to include color or FX settings in a cue list that also needs to include tuned white light. More to come on this but definitely a welcome addition.
Pixel Control
Each Skypanel with the exception of the S30 is made up of multiple light engines. The S60 has 2, 120 has 4, and the 360 has 12. These engines are now addressable via DMX as individual fixtures enabling you to essentially pixel control your fixture manually. This feature was hinted at when the effects were released – they have incorporated this since the beginning – but now that feature is at your fingertips with the release of Firmware 4. This creates a new and powerful tool not only for creating FX lighting, but also opting to use the fixtures as in-frame pixel mapped lights!
New FX
With Firmware 4.0, Arri has upped their game in the effects department as well. New effects added include Explosion, Welding, Fluorescent Flicker, and best of all – process. The process effect really hits the nail on the head of lights sweeping past when doing a poor man’s process. These effects have fine tuneable settings and you can really tell that the engineers spent time perfecting them to look great!
Check out all of FW4’s new features here and come by the shop to check out the whole series of Skypanels. We now carry the 360 as well as the 120, 60, and 30!