The Fillmore in San Francisco
PRG Distribution brings world-class technology to U.S. venues.
The Challenge: Outfit a musical icon for tomorrow’s lighting technology.
The Solution: To choose a console for the new lighting system at San Francisco’s famed Fillmore concert venue, system designer and principal lighting director Brooke Kimple looked to the future.
“I wanted a console that could efficiently handle all of the newer technology coming through our doors today plus whatever we add later. Our MagicQ Pro +300 desk with 58 faders meets and anticipates all our needs,” Kimple says.
“With live shows almost every night and a full video production schedule, faders are the best friends you can have,” he says. “They put immediate control of your lighting system at your fingertips and make it easy to change things on the fly.”
MagicQ’s time-saving features reduce aggravation, says Kimple. “One thing I really love: I can copy palettes, including text to cues, instead of having to label every cue. It’s a small detail, but when you’re doing shows every night, it’s huge.”
Through its powerful Cue Engine and large touch screen, MagicQ is ideal for controlling media servers, and its Media Engine independently drives large numbers of LEDs. The desk supports a range of networking options and connects external interfaces using standard industry protocols.
MagicQ is exclusively available in the United States from PRG Distribution, a division of Production Resource Group (PRG), which provides training and support. Kimple also feels free to call on the U.K. development team.
“Our club always has had a reputation for great music,” he concludes. “Now we’ll have the technology to match for a long time to come.”