Elite Event Technology has invested in 32 Martin MAC Viper XIP with a further 16 units in the post! The Martin MAC Viper XIP is an excellent continuation of the Viper line and represents the state of the art of LED-based automated lighting.
“It seems that with a lot of entertainment lighting these days, there is safety in numbers, and the number of fixtures in rigs is just getting out of control,” commented Darren Russell, EET’s Managing Director. “We also anticipate our MAC Viper XIPs to be our workhorse fixture in their class, so that also drives owning bigger numbers.”
EET has heavily invested in Martin MAC Ones with two significant shipments, and after their first foray into Martin Lighting, they were keen to progress with the MAC Viper XIP.
“We’ve become quite embedded with the Harman family since buying possibly the biggest single delivery of PA in Australia’s history from them last year,” added Darren. “We’ve always been there with Soundcraft and other Harman brands. We own more Soundcraft Digital consoles than anyone in the country. So, we’re extending our family relationship with Harman.”
Darren says that when the MAC Viper XIP came out, he was impressed but waited until he started seeing them on riders, and now they are sought after everywhere.
“We’ve definitely got a couple of our guys that have fallen a little bit in love with them,” he revealed. “When the first 24 arrived, one of our younger guys walked into the warehouse and said, ‘I think I might need to go somewhere and have a moment alone!’. The feedback on the fixtures has been excellent; they feel well-made. Their flexibility allows them to fit into any design.”
The colour mixing and performance impressed Darren, particularly the rich saturation; he says the mixing is smooth and even, and, when required, absurdly fast. Also fast is the zoom range, which spans an impressive 5.7° to 51°, and the framing shutters.
“The gobos stay sharp and bright throughout the zoom range,” remarked Darren. “With high lumen output and XIP-rated protection against water and dust, the MAC Viper XIP suits year-round outdoor use and remains exceptionally quiet indoors.”
Darren and his crew compared the MAC Viper XIP with other fixtures in its class before committing to purchase. He says the light quality was definitely what stood out, particularly for corporate and broadcast work. Consistent colour temperature, flicker-free operation, and smooth dimming curve … tick, tick and tick!
“The feature set’s good, build quality’s good, and the quality is good for an LED fixture,” he added. “They’re a bit of a Swiss Army knife, you know? Yeah, it can be a profile light, do framing, be a wash light… simply a good workhorse.”
EET deployed 32 MAC Viper XIPs at the recent Lifeline ACT Gala event at the National Arboretum, where the fixtures were used for key lighting, gobos, and room effects.
