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VL6

Introduced: 1994
Launched a couple of years after it, the VL6 was a spot companion to the VL5. Both were noticeable for an omission: no top box, instead just a small mounting plate for hook clamps. Processing was delegated to external Smart Repeater boxes, one for every six lights; the power supply was on the ground in an APS6 rack.

Internally, the VL6 used a 400W discharge lamp, and offered two 11 slot plus open wheels, with any slot able to hold either a colour or a gobo, clever mounts allowing them to be easily swapped around and Vari-Lite also introducing their Vari-Image gobo laser etching process. The light had a fun trick of being able to morph the image between two gobos but adjusting the focus. Modular wheel mechanisms made it easy to maintain. And being small, the VL6 could also move fast!

These were still rental-only items, and Vari-Lite upgraded them over time, to the VL6B (zoom lens, additional rotating gobo wheel), then the brighter VL6C. As a result, very few original VL6 units remain.