Wikipedia

Draft:Source Four

Source Four
Fixture Details
Fixture Type(s)ERS, PAR, Fresnel
Purpose(s)Spot, Wash, Cyc
Rigging Method(s)Yoke, Track-mount (MO), Canopy (MO)
ModelsJunior, Mini, PAR, Fresnel, PARNel, 4WRD, 4WRD II, 4WRD Color, 4WRD Color II, LED
Lamp Type(s)HPL, QXL, LED, Lustr
Data InputLine, DMX (3-pin & 5-pin)
Color(s)Black, White
AutomatedS4 Revolution Only
Production
Inventor(s)David Cunningham, Gregg Esakoff
First Sold1992
Manufacturer(s)ETC
Currently ProducedYes
Websitehttps://www.etcconnect.com/Products/Entertainment-Fixtures/Source-Four/

Source Four (Source 4 or S4) is the brand name for entertainment lighting fixtures manufactured by Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC). The name originally applied to the HPL lamp and ellipsoidal reflector spotlight (ERS) first produced in 1992,[1] but now applies to the series of related fixtures, and often–erroneously–for any type of ERS as a generic trademark. It can be combined with seperate, rotatable interchangeable lens barrels to create different field angles, as well as other fixture bodies to become other luminaire types such as a PAR or Fresnel.[2][3] It is commonly found in theaters, film/television studios, churches, concert halls, museums, theme parks, and other multipurpose spaces.

The Source Four is named for the four-filament design in the lamp invented by David Cunningham and Greg Esakoff of Entertec.[4][5][6] The main advantage of this specific design over the previous ERS models is its improvements to light emission, heat dissipation and power efficiency.[7][8][9] Heat dissapation is improved due to a dichroic glass relector that only reflects visible light and allows infared light to pass through to the cooling system at the back of the fixture.[3] It is also credited for its minimal light spill and focus controlability.[10][11]

Incandescent models use 375 watt, 575 watt, and 750 watt High Performance Lamps (HPLs) manufactured by USHIO. The four filament design of the bulbs are near 40% more effecient with a 600 watt outputting light equivalent to a traditional 1000 watt bulb.[3] Unlike previous ERS lights, the bulb on a Source Four is in line with the lenses, rather than at an angle.[3] All Source Fours are constructed from die-cast aluminum.[12]

Source Four

edit
 
Source Four fixture with 10° Lens barrel

There are also two zoom barrels that can angle 15° to 30°, and 25° to 50° respectively.[12] It features a 25° rotating barrel and three-plane stainless-steel shutter blade assembly. It can hold A, B, and Glass size patterns and gel media holders range from 6.25" to 14" frames depending on lens barrel.[13]


Source Four jr

edit
 
Source Four Jr fixture with 36° lens.

The Source Four jr is a smaller, less expensive version of the source four fixture. They come in four barrel angles variants 26°, 36°, 50°, and a zoom lens between 25° to 50°.[14] Unlike the standard Source Four, the Source Four jr does not have interchangeable lenses. It is equipped with a smaller M-size pattern holder and 6.25" gel media holder.[13]

Other Models & Lines

edit
Incandescent:
edit
  • The Source Four Mini is the smallest fixture in the Source Four line at 9" long. It is mainly for use in museums and lecture halls[15]
  • The Source Four PAR & PARnel, introduced in 1995,[16] is a fixture body that attaches to the Source Four Lamp base to act like a PAR64 lamp. It's main advantage over a conventional PAR is that the fixture uses the HPL lamps, rather than the large PAR64 bulbs. The PARnel is similar, except rather than seperate, interchangable lenses, the beam angle can be adjusted with a knob on the back similar to a fresnel.[17]
  • The Source Four Fresnel. [11]
  • The Source Four Revolution is a discontinued moving head fixture. first introduced in 2004.[18] It used a modular system including a 24-cell color scroller assembly, motorized zoom, and iris and shutter controls. It also had pan and tilt functions and used a QXL (Quick eXchange Lamp, also manufactured by USHIO) bulb.[19][20][21]
LED:
edit
  • The Source Four LED line uses an LED array called Selador X7, named after the company ETC acquired in 2009.[22]
  • Source 4WRD (a portmanteau of "four" and "forward") is a line of LED fixtures, as well as LED lamps meant to supplant conventional Source Four lamp bases. It was first introduced in 2016. Source 4WRD Color introduced an RGBA LED Array. It is compatible with any full-size Source Four fixture including PAR and Fresnel.
edit
  •  
    A Source Four with a Ten Degree barrel. Mounted for followspot use.
  •  
    Source Four PAR fixtures
  •  
    Source 4 ERSs and PARS
  •  
    Source 4 ERSs, and PARs
  •  
    Source 4 fixtures with Top Hats
  •  
    An electrician focusing Source 4 fixtures

References

edit
  1. ^ Wild, Larry (September 14, 2015). "A Brief History of Stage Lighting". Northern State University. Archived from the original on 8 December 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2024 – via Archive.org.
  2. ^ Shelley, Steven (2013-05-02). A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-136-08382-2.
  3. ^ a b c d Mort, Skip (2015-09-24). Stage Lighting: The Technicians' Guide (2nd ed.). Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9781474212717.
  4. ^ "Parnelli Profile: David Cunningham | PLSN". 2015-09-17. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
  5. ^ "Theatrecrafts - Equipment - Source Four". www.theatrecrafts.com. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  6. ^ US Patent 5268613, Cunningham, David, "Incandescent Illumination System", issued 1993-12-07, assigned to Gregory Esakoff 
  7. ^ Horpedahl, Paul (November 13, 2020). "Revolutions in Tech". Opera America.
  8. ^ Sound, Fachredaktion Prolight + (2017-10-22). "A Quarter-Century of Source Four from ETC". Prolight + Sound Blog. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
  9. ^ Shelley, Steven (2013-05-02). A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting (2nd illustrated ed.). Burlington, MA: Taylor & Francis. p. 33. ISBN 9781136083822.
  10. ^ Malkiewicz, Kris (2012). Film Lighting: talks with Hollywood's cinematographers and gaffers. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster. pp. 37–38. ISBN 978-1-4391-6906-3.
  11. ^ a b Gillette, J. Michael (2019). Designing with Light: An Introduction to Stage Lighting. Michael J. McNamara (7th ed.). S.l.: ROUTLEDGE. pp. 48, 75. ISBN 978-0-429-81579-9.
  12. ^ a b "Source Four Features". www.etcconnect.com. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  13. ^ a b "S4 Accessories Sheet" (.qxd). Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  14. ^ "Source Four jr Features". www.etcconnect.com. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  15. ^ "Source Four Mini LED Features". www.etcconnect.com. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  16. ^ "Selling the First Source Four". blog.etcconnect.com. 2023-01-19. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  17. ^ Moody, James L.; Dexter, Paul (2016-10-04). Concert lighting: the art and business of entertainment lighting (4th ed.). New York: Focal Press, Taylor & Francis Group. pp. 213–215. ISBN 978-1-317-37428-2.
  18. ^ "iSquint.net » The Revolution finally goes LED? Introducing the Releve Spot by ETC". Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  19. ^ Dunham, Richard E. (2015-10-30). Stage Lighting: Fundamentals and Applications. CRC Press. ISBN 978-1-317-34394-3.
  20. ^ Dunham, Richard E. (2015-10-30). Stage Lighting: Fundamentals and Applications. CRC Press. p. 270. ISBN 978-1-317-34393-6.
  21. ^ Moody, James; Dexter, Paul (2013-05-02). Concert Lighting: Techniques, Art and Business. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-136-08270-2.
  22. ^ Baldock, Lee, ed. (May 2012). "ETC shows Source Four LED". Lighting & Sound International (Periodical). No. 310. 38 St Leonards Road, Eastbourne, BN21 3UT, UK: PLASA Media Ltd. p. 64. Retrieved 10 January 2024 – via LSI Online Digital Archive.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: ___location (link)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Draft:Source_Four&oldid=1304737682"