“Sidus Link” in Studio: Absolute Game Changer
A Good Idea
When we set out to open our own studio, Indie Pepper Studios, I said to my team, "If we are constructing a cyc wall, y’all better believe it is going to be pre-lit!" And, it is. However, we ran up against some issues that were mostly related to control and user interface.
When we opened Indie Pepper Studios in 2020 we had implemented a lighting control system that used Crestron Automation via a wall-mounted touch screen to send DMX to 24V LED Tape decoders all over the studio. We built six zones of soft color-mixing light overhead and one large zone of color mixing for the 42ft three-sided cyclorama. The solution worked quite well but lacked flexibility. DPs were able to very quickly set a look, but they had to walk to the wall to do so, and we didn't have the flexibility to store presets or cues.
Indie Pepper Studios
Pre Sidus Link Lighting
Enter Sidus Link
Over the years, we had been accruing Aputure gear and had started to see more and more about Sidus Link and Bluetooth connected fixtures. Skeptical at first, we were intrigued by the idea of being able to control our lights from a mobile device rather than being tethered to a wall-mounted touch screen.
For those who don't know, Sidus Link is a lighting control app developed by Aputure that allows users to wirelessly control their lights from a mobile device. It offers a wide range of features, including the ability to adjust color temperature, brightness, and even special effects like lightning and fireworks. With Sidus Link, users can create and save presets, as well as cue up changes in lighting during a shoot.
We were SOLD on Sidus Link - and when the Amaran P60c was announced in late 2021, we pulled the trigger. Indie Pepper Studios now boasts a 42ft cyc wall with 650sq ft of Cyc floor lit entirely by 11x Amaran P60c fixtures, all connected through Sidus Link and an iPad. We still have 6 zones of soft overhead lighting and 5 individually controlled fixtures for cyc coverage. These can all be individually controlled or grouped. DPs now have high CRI and full-range color mixing at the touch of a finger.
You can clearly see the creative energy with this new system. Each of these chair photos was taken less that 20 seconds apart and seated the whole time. Now that is felxibility!
Since implementing Sidus Link, the flow of our productions and the productions that have come through have vastly improved. Adjustments to lighting can now be made much more quickly and easily, allowing us to try out new looks and ideas risk-free. The snapshot ability of Sidus Link means we can easily save and recall presets, which has been a huge time-saver. Music videos and high concept art content, in particular, have benefited from the custom effect endings and preset effects available through Sidus Link. Overall, we couldn't be happier with the flexibility and ease of use that Sidus Link has brought to our studio.
