Astera QuikSpot

Description

The Astera QuikSpot is a battery-powered uplight, a precise zoomable fresnel, and a versatile, compact spotlight all in one. Versatile, isn’t it? The Astera QuikSpot evolved from the well-known Astera AX5. This doesn’t necessarily mean they serve exactly the same purpose. There are indeed differences, which we’ll explain in detail.

Like its predecessor – the Astera AX5 – this QuikSpot is designed based on a 3-in-1 principle. The ‘old’ AX5 primarily served as a wired LED spot, wireless LED spot, or LED uplighter. The fixture was also described as the ultimate tool for every audiovisual professional. The new QuikSpot can also be applied to a similar 3-in-1 principle. Overlapping are its uses as a wireless and wired uplight and spotlight, but new is its application as a fresnel. This is all due to the new lens, but more on that later.

As you would expect from an Astera fixture, it fully integrates into the ecosystem of all their fixtures. This lamp can also function for up to 20 hours on its internal battery. You can control this fixture wirelessly via the Astera application, and by using an AsteraBox, you can operate these lamps wirelessly via DMX. Using it outdoors is no problem, as this QuikSpot is weather-resistant and tested according to IP65 certification. These spots are also very suitable for studios and other recording locations. The cooling is not provided by a fan, but through the specially developed aluminum housing. Therefore completely silent.

What is the light source of an Astera QuikSpot?

Under the hood, you’ll find the standard – as Astera calls it – Titan LED Engine. This means the light source consists of an RGBMA module. By mixing red, green, blue, mint, and amber LEDs, you can create virtually any colour you can imagine. The possibilities run into the millions. Due to this combination of colours, the colour fidelity of the light beam is higher than 96%. Unparalleled high. At least, that’s the case if your colour temperature is set between 3200K and 6500K. Which is actually the case in 99% of events. You can set the desired colour directly on the fixture itself, send it to the lamps via the Astera application, or control it via DMX (both wired and wireless).

Which filters come with an Astera QuikSpot when I rent it?

This is where the first major change compared to the current generation of AX fixtures, such as the AX3, AX5, and AX9, begins. These all come standard with a light beam with a 13° beam angle. Adjusting this light beam is done with supplied filters. Depending on the chosen filter, the light beam was adjusted to 32° or 46° x 17°. With the QuikSpot, adjusting the light beam has been made even easier. No external filters are necessary. This fixture features a zoomable lens. You can rotate the housing of the fixture, which moves the lens back and forth. This narrows or widens the light beam. The zoom range of this lamp starts at 13° and goes all the way up to a beam with a 60° angle.

However, one filter is still included with this QuikSpot. This is a rotatable elliptical filter of 46° x 17°. You click this external accessory onto the housing in front of the lens. This makes the light beam oval. Because you can rotate this filter, you can also rotate the oval light beam. This allows you to illuminate objects very precisely. For example, if you need to illuminate a wall, a horizontal oval is typically used. However, if you want to illuminate a pillar, a vertical oval light beam fits better. This way, you have complete freedom in creating the right light beam for your application.

What is the battery life of an Astera QuikSpot?

Nowadays, almost all devices are equipped with batteries, and this development has also found its way into professional event lighting. Thanks to modern batteries, it is now possible to use lighting wirelessly, which saves considerable time during both setup and breakdown. Because no cabling is needed, valuable installation time is saved. Moreover, the absence of cables results in a sleeker and neater end result.

After a full charge – which takes about five hours – the Astera QuikSpot can operate continuously for up to 20 hours with correct settings via the AsteraApp. This is more than sufficient for most events. If desired, the spots can also be connected to the power grid as usual.

The reliability of battery life is crucial; the last thing you want is for the lighting to fail halfway through. That’s why Astera has developed the ‘Seamless Runtime’ function. This allows you to preset how long the spots should continue working. The lamps then calculate the required energy consumption themselves, ensuring they continue to operate throughout the entire event without interruption.

Is the Astera QuickSpot flicker-free?

It often happens: to the naked eye, an event looks perfect. Everything is arranged down to the last detail, but as soon as you look through a camera lens, you see the lighting flickering. Very frustrating, because this often makes the footage unusable. This phenomenon is caused by LED lighting. Unlike traditional incandescent bulbs, LEDs are not constantly on. They flicker on and off incredibly fast — too fast for the human eye to perceive, but a camera does register this.

Fortunately, the AsteraApp offers a simple solution. Through the app, you can adjust the frequency of the LED flickering to match your camera’s frame rate, or set this manually. To the eye, the lighting remains unchanged, but on camera, the lamp appears to burn constantly. This prevents disruptive flickers and makes the footage perfectly suitable for aftermovies or other video material.

Additionally, the Astera QuikSpot is designed with studio work and quiet events in mind. The lamp doesn’t need a fan to cool down, which prevents noise disturbance. Instead, a smart aluminum housing ensures efficient heat dissipation, without compromising on performance or sound level.

How does the wireless communication of an Astera QuikSpot work?

It’s ideal that these spots work on a battery, but for optimal flexibility, wireless control is also essential — and that is of course provided. Astera has developed its own wireless protocol for this. Using the AsteraBox, the spots can be fully controlled as desired. The AsteraBox acts as a smart transmitter and translates the incoming signal into an RF signal within the frequency of 865–870 MHz. Thanks to this specific frequency, an impressive range of up to 300 meters is possible.

An important advantage over many other systems is the built-in ‘talkback’ function. This enables two-way communication: not only does the AsteraBox send information to the lamps, but the lamps also send data back. This makes it possible to read real-time information about settings, battery status, and operation of the spots. The AsteraBox connects via Bluetooth to a tablet, after which you have access to an extensive package of functions and settings through the AsteraApp.

• • Colours, chases, effects, and groups
  • Anti-Flicker
  • Theft Alarm:
  • Enter and Leave Standby

It is also possible to use the AsteraBox as a DMX transmitter. By connecting this transmitter to the lighting console using the supplied DMX adapter, you can control all Astera lamps via the lighting technician’s Avolites, Hog or Grand MA.