Elation KL Fresnel 8 FC
Full-color Fresnel for panels, interviews and tunable-white scenes: plan coverage, control and camera testing.
Model and use
KL Fresnel 8 FC combines an RGBMA engine with motorized zoom. It can be assessed for key/fill on people and colored scenes. This page covers 8 FC, not white KL Fresnel 8, FC PO or 8 IP.
Prepare your inquiry
- Date, venue, approximate panel size and seated or standing layout.
- Photos, panel width, possible heights and throws, windows, screens, microphones and camera shots.
- A drawing is not required to start: share venue equipment and whether equipment, installation, setup, programming or operation is needed.
Tell us the use, date and venue, even if dimensions or the model are still undecided. We can assess rental, purchase, integration or technical support. Availability, configuration, accessories and scope are confirmed in the proposal.
Connections and components
- Nominal motorized zoom 10°–50°; beam and field angles are different measures. Useful coverage requires placement and testing.
- 100–240 V, 50/60 Hz power; published maximum consumption 514 W. Engine wattage, input consumption and useful light are different.
- 3/5-pin XLR DMX and RDM. Manual 4.0 for software ≥1.10 lists 11 modes: 1/5/7/11/12/19/20/10/15/16/14 channels; verify firmware and profile.
Prepare the system
- Identify 8 FC, firmware, accessories and position. Arrange non-dimmed power and qualified mounting.
- Match mode, address and profile; test dimmer, white/color and zoom on one unit before the full system.
- Rehearse every seat, transitions, microphone noise and the actual camera settings with the real panel layout.
Proposed scenario
A multi-person panel with scene changes
We can assess overlapping Fresnel zones and zoom settings for useful light at each seat. If shadows are distracting, another fixture position or a diffuse source may work better. The fixture count and evenness of coverage need assessment; maximum output alone does not determine them.
Separate steady face light from background color to change scenes while preserving exposure. Fixtures, barndoors, supports, distribution, preparation and operation are defined in the proposal.
Questions and answers
How many fixtures does a panel need?
It depends on width, people, throw, height and camera. Send an approximate sketch. We can compare overlapping zones or diffuse light; check the end seats and faces before settling the count.
How can color changes leave faces unaffected?
Separate front and background functions or prepare cues that preserve white light on people. Rehearse with actual clothing, skin and screen content; save accepted settings. One shared group can limit independent changes.
Why does an older profile control zoom or color incorrectly?
Manual 4.0 adds modes compared with earlier versions. Compare installed firmware, channel count and function names against the exact profile and reserve its footprint. Do not update firmware or change modes mid-show as the first diagnostic step.
Does LED refresh adjustment remove all flicker?
LED refresh is adjustable. Test it with the actual frame rate, shutter and light levels, and check fades and exposure too. Save the setting that works for that combination. If the camera or its settings change, check again for banding.
Can fan noise be reduced for an interview?
We can assess placement and a fan mode supported by the unit, listening through the microphones while checking output and temperature. Do not block air inlets or disconnect fans; compare another source or position if the compromise is unsuitable.
Why does it stay lit when DMX is removed?
Check the data-loss option documented for that version and distinguish data from power. Record settings and test loss and recovery before the event. A held state is not proof of failure; identify the cause before resetting the system.
Why does white change when dimming or between panel cues?
Before correcting every cue, compare CCT, Green Shift and Dim to Warm, and record Color Tuning and Output Balance if the version provides them. Manual 4.0 distinguishes fidelity versus output priority; Uniform can reduce intensity to favor matching. Save the configuration before testing. Isolate one fixture on the same face or surface and change one setting at a time with fixed camera settings and exposure, then compare the others. We can assess matching and face-light cues, or front light separated from background color. Send firmware, profile, photos and program moments even without a finalized design. Agree on whites and fades in rehearsal; do not use service calibration to compensate for patch errors or different ambient light.
Precautions
- IP20: dry indoor use; an IP65 cable connector does not make the fixture outdoor-rated.
- Use grounded, non-dimmed power; size the circuit and power linking to the manual. Keep ventilation clear.
- Qualified mounting and secondary safety; isolate power and allow cooling before handling. Avoid direct eye exposure.
Documentation and help
- Elation — KL Fresnel 8 FC (EN)
- Elation — User Manual 4.0, 17/12/2024 (EN)
- Elation — DMX Traits (EN)
- Elation — manual 4.0: ColourTune p. 15; menus pp. 17–18 (English)
Reference documentation: manual 4.0 dated December 17, 2024, for software ≥1.10; the product page lists V1.1.4. Check the installed firmware before choosing a profile. If you are using an older six-mode manual, compare its list with the actual fixture version.
Guides for choosing
Useful terms
DMX: control data; the profile defines the channels. Firmware: software on the unit. Mode: functions and footprint selected on the fixture; it must match the console patch.
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