Ayrton GHIBLIs Installed in Sound Waves at Hard Rock Hotel Casino Atlantic City

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City has installed 30 Ayrton GHIBLI LED spot luminaires with framing shutters in its Sound Waves theater.  Full Production Services in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey provided the fixtures, which are exclusively distributed in North America by ACT Lighting, Inc.

Sound Waves is a 1,500-seat venue that features stand up comedy acts Monday through Thursday, headline acts Friday and Saturday and production shows on Sunday.  It has hosted Broadway shows, nationally-known headliners and corporate events since the hotel and casino opened in June 2018.

“The theater had no intelligent lighting fixtures prior to adding the GHIBLIs,” says Entertainment Lead Ben Lynford.  “The lighting rig consisted of incandescent PAR cans and lekos.  Our goal was to create a flexible and capable LED house rig that could meet the needs of such a busy, multi-purpose venue.  We needed a fixture with punch for a rock show and finesse for magic and theatrical shows.  The GHIBLI was brighter and more complete than any of the fixtures we looked at.”

Four motorized electrics over the stage are trimmed at 23 feet above the stage and two more in the house at 27 feet and 25 feet. A CAT5 network distributes data to fixtures over ArtNet from a grandMA2 at FOH.  Twenty-six GHIBLIs are hung from the electrics over the stage with four fixtures placed on the floor in various configurations according to the requirements of different shows.

“With many of the LED fixtures I’ve worked with there was a trade off that had to be made,” Lynford recalls.  “Usually, the intensity of the beam wasn’t as strong, the color mixing wouldn’t be great or the fixture didn’t have shutters.  But the GHIBLI is a great all-around fixture with strong output, great zoom and shutters.”

Lynford reports that the GHIBLIs are “exceeding all expectations.  We’ve had a year of heavy use, and the one issue that developed was easily corrected. When visiting lighting designers come through they usually leave commenting on how impressed they are with the GHIBLIs.” He credits Production Manager James Keaton with helping to research the GHIBLIs and execute the design of the rig.

About ACT Lighting

A leading importer and distributor of lighting products, ACT Lighting, Inc. strives to identify future trends and cutting-edge products, and stock, sell and support their inventory.  The company provides superior customer service and value for money to all of its clients.  

For more information, visit www.actlighting.com.