by Frank Schabell
In the ever-evolving world of lighting design for churches, the demand for versatile yet powerful lighting consoles has never been higher. There are many control options available with their inherent strengths and weaknesses, but Obsidian Control Systems has stood out to me with their selection of control surfaces with the NX4 being the premier console. Working behind many lighting consoles over the years, I was particularly eager to get behind the NX4 and put it through its paces. After extensive use, I am excited to share my experience with its features, functionality, and how it can equip the lighting programmer to enhance the worship experience.
User-Friendliness & Physical Surface
As a former lighting director for a multisite church, the first impression of new equipment can be crucial, especially in environments where volunteer operators are involved. Introducing new systems can either “deepen the bench” or make the volunteer pool smaller – church production staff should always consider this when implementing new systems in their productions.
The NX4 comes installed with ONYX by Obsidian Control Systems, a powerful lighting platform used by programmers worldwide. One of the biggest strengths of ONYX is the remarkably shallow learning curve, making it an ideal choice for both experienced lighting designers as well as volunteers. Another feature that makes it very attractive to lighting programmers is the fact that the programming experience is the same across the ONYX ecosystem; from the top tier NX4 to the home office programming offline on your laptop while running a visualizer; there are no compromises in the lighting programmer’s workflow within ONYX! ONYX is an ideal choice for churches looking for a standardized approach for programming/operation that will translate between multiple venues or campuses all while allowing for growth in their production.
Along with the many features of ONYX, the physical aspects of the NX4 are phenomenal. The 15.6-inch full-color touchscreen can be set up to offer a clear overview of the entire lighting rig with the 2D plan or the programming data at a glance; the options are truly endless thanks to the ability to create custom views that allow lighting designers to navigate effortlessly between programming or operating lights for church.
The touchscreen is complemented by an array of tactile controls, including motorized faders and customizable rotary encoders. This combination of touch and physical controls ensures that consoles adapt to the programmer’s preferences, whether they prefer hands-on fader adjustments or touchscreen precision, the option is completely on the programmer. I enjoy having the ability to control my lighting rig with a more hands-on approach with multiple cuelists, submasters and overrides controlling aspects of the lighting rig while having all relevant data in front of me on the touchscreen. The beauty of the NX4 along with ONYX’s architecture is the ability to create the lighting system that fits best to your church’s production goals.
Powerful Processing Capabilities
One of the standout features of the NX4 is its processing power. Equipped with an Intel Quad-Core processor and 16 GB of RAM, this console handles complex lighting setups with ease. In a church environment where having a powerful, yet powerful console is crucial to creating a spiritually immersive experience, the NX4’s processing capabilities shine.
For this review, I operated this console for several weekends at church, as well as for our Christmas services. After running the NX4 for typical weekend services and then the crucible of Christmas, I’m pleased to say that the NX4 easily handled everything perfectly! I programmed through a wide variety of songs and special elements to get a taste of what this console could do. The NX4 not only responded promptly to all my real-time adjustments but it proved itself to be highly stable, a crucial aspect in any live production setting where reliability is paramount. There was never a moment where I noticed a lag in its performance and or any hiccups while programming or operating lights for church.
Versatility in Fixture Control & An Expanding Fixture Library
The NX4 truly stands out in its versatility when it comes to fixture control. With support for multiple protocols such Art-Net, sACN, X-Net as well as standard DMX, the console seamlessly integrates with a wide range of fixtures, Nodes and additional ONYX consoles that can be used in worship spaces. Whether the church has lamp based fixtures or LED wash moving heads, Obsidian Control Systems has you covered with their fixture library that is updated daily! This comprehensive database includes profiles for fixtures from leading manufacturers and also allows for the quick submission of new requests to the Obsidian Control Systems technical support team. This makes patching and configuring fixtures a breeze, saving valuable time during setup, and ensuring your fixtures will operate correctly for service.
Innovative Media Mapper
Many contemporary worship environments incorporate LED pixel mapping to enhance the visual experience during worship. The NX4 excels in this with its pixel mapping capabilities with DyLOS! This built-in media engine allows for easy manipulation of pixel-mappable fixtures, empowering the programmer to create intricate effects efficiently. The console’s pixel mapping feature is complemented by a user-friendly interface within DyLOS and a very generous library of content courtesy of Obsidian Control Systems. DyLOS not only pixel maps but allows media content that easily works over all RGB and CMY fixtures along with manipulation of other linear parameters like pan, tilt, zoom, iris, and focus. This tool has proven itself so useful, that I have brought it into my programming workflow when working with ONYX!
Dynamic Effects Engine
Good programmers can learn a lighting system but great programmers can create captivating experiences with the tools available to them. The NX4’s effects engine is a game-changer in this regard! During my testing of the NX4, the physical surface allowed an intuitive programming experience with Effects. Along with the ability to create your custom Effects, ONYX comes loaded with Effect Templates to start from! This feature is especially valuable for churches needing a starting point in their Effect creation process. I found the Effects Templates to be especially helpful while programming for Christmas.
Integration with External Devices
In a modern church setup, seamless integration with other audiovisual components is essential. The NX4’s open architecture allows for easy integration with external devices, including audio consoles, video systems, and show control platforms.
The console’s connectivity options, including MIDI, SMPTE, and OSC, provide flexibility in communication with other devices. This is particularly advantageous in churches where worship productions involve multiple elements that need to be coordinated precisely.
Conclusion
The Obsidian Control Systems’ NX4 lighting console stands as an ideal choice for churches seeking a powerful, versatile, and user-friendly lighting control solution. Its intuitive interface, processing capabilities, and innovative features make it a valuable asset for both experienced lighting designers and volunteers in worship environments.
The NX4’s integration with a variety of fixtures, DyLOS, and dynamic effects engine positions it as a comprehensive solution for churches with diverse lighting needs. As a lighting designer in the church world, I highly recommend the Obsidian Control Systems’ NX4 to any worship space looking to elevate their lighting design and create impactful, worship experiences for their congregations.
REPORT CARD
FLEXIBILITY: 5/5
The Obsidian Control Systems’ NX4 lighting console impresses with its flexibility, seamlessly adapting to the programmer’s preferences and needs. Its combination of the touchscreen interface, intuitive controls, and support for multiple protocols ensures a user-friendly experience, making it the ideal choice for the lighting demands of diverse worship environments.
STABILITY: 5/5
The NX4 by Obsidian Control Systems stands out for its stability in handling complex lighting rigs. Equipped with a robust Intel Quad-Core processor and 16 GB of RAM, this console ensures steadfast performance, crucial for live worship settings where reliability is key.
EASE OF USE: 5/5
The Obsidian Control Systems’ NX4 lighting console excels in user-friendliness, boasting an intuitive touchscreen interface and tactile controls that minimize the learning curve for operators and volunteers. With a design that effortlessly caters to both hands-on fader adjustments and touchscreen precision, the NX4 sets a new standard for ease of use in church lighting control.
COST: 5/5
The Obsidian Control Systems’ NX4 lighting console delivers an impressive blend of features and affordability, providing an amazing value proposition in lighting control for churches. With its many capabilities and competitive pricing, the NX4 stands as a cost-effective solution that doesn’t compromise on performance making it one of my favorite consoles for churches.
OVERALL VALUE: 5/5
The Obsidian Control Systems’ NX4 lighting console hits all the marks in value and has blown me away during this review. I cannot overstate how impressed I have been with Obsidian Controls Systems in what they are bringing to the House of Worship market. I’m very excited to see what else the future has in store for the ONYX platform.
Frank Schabell is Director of Support and Lighting Design at Pro Church Lights. He is passionate about using art and technology to tell the greatest story ever told. Visit ProChurchLights.com or follow Frank at @FrankSchabell and the team at @prochurchlights
