Creamsource releases Vortex Softs, unveils CreamOS V3.0

Creamsource, maker of artisan LED lighting for film and television, announces the worldwide release of the Vortex Softs, adding a reliable, highoutput soft light to the Vortex family with the Vortex8 Soft (V8S) and Vortex4 Soft (V4S).

These new fixtures deliver creamy, full-spectrum light while offering endless ways to customise and blend seamlessly with the rest of the lineup. No game-changers here—just a rock-solid tool built for flexibility. Plus, with the release of CreamOS V3.0, users also gain access to a beefy feature set that delivers even greater power and control.

Creamsource is delivering the ultimate versatility and IP65-rated durability you’ve come to expect from the Vortex series—just in a softer package. As part of the Vortex Ecosystem, these fixtures are powered by the Creamsource Colour Management System (CCMS) for excellent colour accuracy and consistency between units and across the Vortex range. We’ve also added a few key enhancements to the Vortex Softs:

Tilt Indicator: Whether rigging for large arrays or single lights, the tilt indicator ensures exacting precision and uniformity across setups.

Front Loading System: Swap lenses and modifiers quickly without having to deconstruct your rig—saving time during those mid-shoot changes.

XWIDE Lens: Formerly known as the MED diffuser, the new XWIDE lens maintains the same 110° beam spread but has been rebranded to better reflect its light-shaping capabilities.

CreamOS V3.0 is loaded with powerful features that put more control and flexibility right at your fingertips.

• Browser-Based Configuration & Control: The headliner for CreamOS V3.0 is the multilingual web interface which lets users manage all connected Vortex fixtures from any web browser. Especially handy for large-scale arrays, this interface simplifies control with:
• Fixture Search: The built-in Discovery feature automatically detects and lists all connected fixtures, allowing for fixture identification, management, and configuration.
• Bulk Configuration: Adjust multiple fixtures simultaneously, changing fixture settings such as Dimming Curve, Fan Mode, Colour Space, and DMX modes and addresses.
• Remote Management: Adjust fixtures from any location, ideal for hard-to-reach setups or quick changes during production.
• Efficient Troubleshooting: Quickly identify and resolve issues directly from the web interface with instant feedback from the fixtures.

Flexible Update Methods: After installing CreamOS V3.0, future firmware updates can be done via the web page, wired DMX (from one fixture to another), and Streaming ACN (sACN). This flexibility means that Vortex users will be able to update all connected fixtures simultaneously. Don’t throw away your USB key just yet, wait until you install this update, of course!

Enhanced Colour Space Management: CreamOS V3.0 introduces native support for various colour spaces including Uncalibrated (Raw) RGBW, Calibrated RGBW, sRGB, Rec. 709, D65-P3, DCI-P3, Display P3, and Rec. 2020. Lights can be set to a specific colour space directly from the fixture, using the Control channel (accessed via standard DMX, CRMX or sACN), or the new web interface, ensuring precise colour reproduction, critical in virtual production environments.

Frame Multiplier with FrameSync: For productions requiring high-speed synchronisation between lights and camera, the Frame Multiplier feature allows users to multiply the incoming sync signal by up to 20 times. This is useful when a camera may have a higher frame rate set, but its sync signal is locked to a lower frame rate.

sACN Sync Packets: CreamOS V3.0 now supports the listening of sACN Sync Packets to ensure syncronised lighting effects across large arrays. Used by the latest media servers and lighting controllers, this update aligns with the sACN standard and promises to future-proof your lighting setups and provide unified response times across the Vortex range.

AC Power Limiter: With CreamOS V3.0, you can now limit the power consumption of Vortex fixtures when running on AC power. This feature allows users to set a power limit in watts, ensuring that lights won’t exceed the capacity of any given power source.