American DJ’s Innovative ScanTron Scanner Converts to Color Changer

Two heads may be better than one. But when it comes to lighting, one head, if it’s removable, can actually create two different effects on the same fixture.

That’s the simple, yet amazingly clever concept behind American DJ’s new ScanTron, a 5-channel DMX intelligent scanner that’s designed to be “two effects in one.” Thanks to a unique removable X-Y mirror head, the ScanTron can be easily converted from a scanner to a color changer. When the mirror head is attached to the front of the unit, the ScanTron functions as a scanner, shooting out moving multi-colored beams of light and gobo patterns across the dance floor and walls. Take off the head and voila, the effect transforms into a color changer with gobos, casting colors and patterns onto a stage or room without mirror movements.

The conversion can be done in minutes with no tools. All you do to remove the head is unscrew three thumb screws and disconnect a mirror interface cable. It couldn’t be simpler!
Aside from being ingenious, the idea of a quick-change 2-in-1 special effect is totally in tune with today’s club lighting market. More clubs today are presenting greater entertainment variety. They’re featuring different types of music on different nights, both live acts and DJs, even multiple rooms with completely different vibes. All this is creating a need for more versatile lighting that can be used in a wider range of applications.

The ScanTron – and its cousin the RollerTron (same as ScanTron, only with a barrel mirror instead of conventional mirror) – are right on the mark. In their scanner role, they’re perfect for house dance nights when a DJ is spinning tunes and the club wants to create a wild, exciting atmosphere with an electrifying light show and lots of visual movement. Then on evenings when there’s live entertainment, just switch to the calmer color changer, and you can spotlight and enhance the performance on stage without overpowering it. The color changer is also ideal for setting a mood in a club’s lounge and conversation areas.

By eliminating the need to buy multiple lights for different applications, the ScanTron and RollerTron can save you money. In designing these versatile removable head fixtures, American DJ has really “used its head” to come up with innovative products that offer tremendous value and usefulness to clubs, DJs, LDs and more.

But the ScanTron and RollerTron are more than just versatile. When you consider each as “just” a scanner or color changer, they’re impressive effects in their own right. Each effect is loaded with patterns and colors – 14 gobos plus spot and 11 colors plus white – and each also has a variable strobe feature. The gobos and colors are on separate wheels, which are driven by high-quality stepper motors, so the transitions are as smooth and seamless as silk.

Another nice thing about the ScanTron and RollerTron is that they give users the flexibility of three operating modes: Stand-Alone Mode, Master/Slave Mode and DMX Control Mode. Both effects come equipped with several built-in programs that are sound-activated via an internal microphone, so when used in Stand-Alone Mode they will chase to the beat of the music. The ScanTron and RollerTron’s programs are compatible with one another, so you can link multiple units together in a Master/Slave capacity via XLR cables (up to 4 units). Then just flip the switch and the lights move together in sync. Mixing and matching, the two effects produce a really terrific light show, with the RollerTron’s barrel-shaped beams complementing the ScanTron’s sharper rays. American DJ offers an optional IRC-1 Controller that can be used to control blackout, slow scan and strobe functions.

These intelligent fixtures can also be used with any universal DMX-512 controller, allowing users to program their own unique light show. DMX Channels 1-5 will control pan, tilt, color wheel, gobo wheel and strobing function.

For users who aren’t familiar with DMX, there’s another nifty option that will give you all the flashy pyrotechnics of a super intelligent system, without requiring any programming at all. You can buy 4 ScanTrons or RollerTrons (or any combination), plus American DJ’s DMX-Solo-Tron controller. The DMX-Solo-Tron comes pre-set with built-in ScanTron/RollerTron programs, so all you have to do is plug it in and it’ll spew out an “instant” intelligent light show!

When you consider the fact that you’re getting not one, but two intelligent lights for your money, it would be hard to imagine a better lighting value out there today than the ScanTron or its barrel-mirror twin. We predict that lighting users everywhere will “lose their heads” over these innovative removable-head effects.