The Luxli Timpani is a new 1×1 LED light with a ton of control available from the back LCD panel, a dedicated mobile app or DMX consoles. It is a light the purports to deliver just about anything you could dream up for a 1×1 LED. From the moment you open the box, you start to get a sense that it can.
Luxli Timpani 1×1 LED Key Features
- iOS/Android App Control via Bluetooth
- CCT Mode: 2800-10,000K Color Temperature
- RGB Mode: Select Color from RGB Wheel
- Customizable Lighting Effects
- Filter Mode: 150 Classic Gel Samples
- 100 to 0% Brightness Dimming
- DMX 512 Compatible with 5-Pin XLR
- Built-In V-Mount Plate
- Includes Yoke with 5/8″ Receiver
With every Timpani light, Luxli includes a dated calibration results sheet for the specific serial number unit in the box as tested with the Konica Minolta CL-500A spectrophotometer. The calibration results confirm the 95 CRI across most of the color temperature spectrum. Even at the extreme ends of 2800K and 10,000K, it delivers a 90+ CRI.
The light ships with a basic diffuser installed and is mounted on a dedicated Yok with a 5/8″ receiver. The light is solid built with aluminum reinforcement along the exterior frame – this doesn’t feel like a cheap, plastic Made in China kind of light (it’s actually made in Norway).
It is powered by an included AC adapter to the light’s 4-pin power input. The Timpani also has a V-mount battery plate on the back, which uses a 4-pin female pigtail to insert into the same power input as the AC adapter when using batteries. This is a little odd to have the pigtail loose when not in use; however, there is actually an attached velcro strip to keep it out of the way when not in use.
A bright, red button serves as the power on/off toggle for the light. Startup time is around 3 seconds or so from pressing the power button. When powered on, the light immediately returns to the last used settings.
The mode selector button next to the dimmer wheel toggles through the CCT Mode, RGB Mode, Filter Mode and Special Effect Mode.
CCT Mode is where the Timpani will primarily live unless you have some very specific color or effect needs to dial in. This main setting for the light gives you dimmer control from 0-100% in 1% increments via the left rotary dial on the back panel. You then get temperature control from 2800K to 10,000K in 50K increments via the right-side dial.
RGB Mode gives you the ability to dial in hue and saturation on the rear panel LED screen. You can adjust hue from 0° to 360° and saturation from 0-100% in 1% increments.
Filter Mode gives you quick and easy access to 150 Lee filter presets. You can further dial in the white balance while in filter mode with a preset applied.
Special Effect Mode gives you presets for 10 animated special effects, including color chase, CCT chase, fire, fireworks, lightning, paparazzi, pulse, siren and strobe. The standard presets are rather convincing effects as programmed; however, each effect also has different programmable parameters (e.g., hue, saturation and timing) that can be customized to fit your specific scenes. These are great inclusions if you need a setup that includes police lightings flashing outside at night. Pressing a couple buttons on the Timpani positioned outside a window gives you a convincing effect with real police red and blue strobes outside. The same is true for a campfire, candle-lit or storm setting.
You can also save up to four presets for your custom lighting cocktails using a dedicated Presets menu, which can be recalled later.
The Luxli Conductor app is available for iOS and Android devices. It allows you to connect your phone to the Luxli Timpani via Bluetooth. It’s a very simple process. You open the app and it will recognize the Timpani when powered on and within range. The connection is practically instant after you click to confirm the connection.
Once you are connected with the Conductor app, you can select the brightness level, color temperature presets or take full control over the RGB color pallette. There are also a few effects to control within the app. I found the app handy for quick access to light level adjustments. I didn’t really test the range; however, Bluetooth connections are generally reliable only out to 20-30′. Accordingly, depending on your setup, you could run into some range issues. I had a few app crashes on my iPhone 6 but that could just be my iPhone 6 because it is so old. Regardless, it ran for plenty of long stretches and delivers immediate input response from the selections on the app.
One final thing that I wanted to point out is the DMX control on the Timpani. It uses DMX 5-pin connectors and has a male and female plug for both input and output, which allows you to easily chain multiple lights together or add to an existing DMX chain. The lights are fully addressable to 512 channels from 0 to 511. There are six different DMX modes to assign as a fixture:
- CCT mode: ( 8 bit and 16 bit) Corresponds to the CCT mode described above.The DMX controller can adjust the color temperature from 2800 to 10,000 K and set the green/magenta saturation level.
- HSL mode: ( 8 bit and 16 bit) Corresponds to the RGB mode described above.This mode controls hue and saturation levels.The DMX controller can scroll through the entire color wheel in 1% increments.
- GEL mode: ( 8 bit and 16 bit) Corresponds to the Filter mode described above. GEL mode allows the DMX controller to apply any of the 150 preset colored gels to any CCT setting.
The 8-bit modes should be used with basic DMX controllers such as dimming consoles. 16-bit modes are best for use with virtual DMX control from a computer or advanced 16-bit DMX controllers.
If you want to know more about the DMX operation, how many channels each mode uses and the function of those channels, you can find a load of detail in the full Luxli Timpani manual. Note, this is not the manual that is included in the box. You get a basic operation manual in the box, which should get most people familiar with most of the functions of the light. For detailed DMX operation and some other functions, you’ll need to download the full manual.
Conclusion
The Luxli Timpani is a full-featured, color accurate 1×1 LED light. I have been using these for about a month and they have been rock solid for me so far. The flexibility that it offers from light output, color temperature, color and lighting effects are impressive compared to any light. Add in the V-mount battery support and DMX controls and you have a complete package in a lightweight, low-heat light for a ton of circumstances.
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B&H Photo provided product samples to Photography Bay for the purposes of conducting this review.
I really like it because i can control it using my smart phone. this is very helpful option.
I Will buy it soon. also share with my friend.
thank you Eric Reagan for your nice post.