Click here for a great feature article about Catalyst from Total Production (PDF file .71MB)

Catalyst Feature by Bruce Jordahl (from www.plsn.com), April 2002
A 'catalyst' is defined as something that brings about or helps bring about change. To this end, High End Systems has chosen a superlative name for their latest product. Undoubtedly, change is in the air. As video / LED technology has rocketed forward, lighting designers and other creative personnel suddenly have whole new avenues for expression. Like most of us, I have been extremely envious of the video editor's tools and effects. What if we could have those bells and whistles in the 'lighting' toolbox?

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If you think of HES only in terms of their automated luminaires, prepare to be overwhelmed. Catalyst is a little hard to define, but it has sweeped the show awards (Winner, Design Excellence, PLASA 2001; Winner, Technical Innovation, PLASA 2001; Winner, Entertainment Lighting Product of the Year, LDI 2001; Winner, EDDY Award, Entertainment Design magazine, 2001; Winner, Best Audio Visual Product, Entech 2002), it features the input of some great industry minds (WWG, Richard Bleasedale), is currently on tour with Luis Miguel, Bush, Prince etc., and it appears to be the hottest thing going since sliced dichroics. So what does Catalyst do?

In the past, moving lights and projected stationary video existed as separate entities. Simply stated in HES terms, Catalyst combines the power of digital media with the creativity of automated effects lighting. This groundbreaking system allows the designer to project high-quality video and images in any orientation, as well as utilize real-time digital video effects. No more video envy! While others attempted this marriage, High End has delivered the goods. It could be said that Catalyst is greatest invention for our industry since the birth of the automated luminaire. Other major features include dynamic image manipulation, live video feed capabilities, Catalyst's revolutionary orbital projection movement, DMX-512 control and instantaneous access to over 65,000 image files.

At the heart of the system is the Catalyst Digital Media Server, a video processing computer that offers an unlimited range of real-time image processing capabilities. Users are able to load their own still or moving images or select from an extensive library of stock files. The mind boggles at the sheer amount of content available without even scratching the surface - High End Systems® lithos, DHA and other gobos, Artbeats™ footage, Digital Juice Ambient Loops …

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© Wynne Willson Gottelier 1999