The sold out crowd of 18,000 had the choice of an array of indoor arenas presenting a selection of world class DJ’s - including the amazing Armin Van Buuren and a “cast of infamous audio freaks” including Armand Van Helden, James Zabiela, Chris Lake, Guy Gerber, Matthew Dekay, Laidback Luke, old-skool heroes Rozalla and Altern8, and many more ..... along with Melbourne’s own favourite party crews.

The Armin Arena was designed to look like a gravitron show ride, with the DJ table in the centre, explains Mutton. Seven Robe REDWash 3●192s, 14 Robe ColorWash 1200E ATs and 33 Robe ColorSpot 1200E ATs were used as the main over-stage lighting.

Three trussing circles were rigged around the DJ table, clad with VuePix LED panels arranged in a spherical pattern lying on their backs facing towards the ceiling. Robe ColorSpot 1200ATs were rigged above this stage piece and positioned on the truss to correlate with a series of plastic scenic elements, and so their gobos could add to patterns and texturing to the Vuepix screens. Robe ColorWash 1200ATs encircled this stage piece at floor level, their wide beams used to colour the truss under the video screens and up-light the pyro effects and CO2 gas jets.

The Future Arena was one of the largest spaces, designed to resemble a Circus big top. It kicked off with a bang and some stonking anthems courtesy of Arman Van Helden and local DJs. The DJ platform was 5 metres high and the stage was encircled by a wall of VuePix screens - to look like a Ring Leaders Podium. Behind the DJ was a wall of half circle trusses in the shape of giant clowns. Half of these circles were rigged with Robe ColorSpot 2500E ATs.

Mutton enthused that the Robe ColorSpots are "Great" for doing condensed thick beam colour-changes and spectacular movements in time to the house music rhythms, which he adds is "an awesome experience”.

He positioned 18 Robe REDWashes all over the stage floor to which Clifton’s system tech Matt Downs added some imaginative programming.

Other stages at the carnival included The Renaissance Stage, Old Skool Arena and Likes of You stage – all lit with Robe ColorSpot and ColorWash 700E ATs, and operated in conjunction with Michael Parsons, Simon Downs, John Stanley and Andy Mutton.

“Overall the Robes were great,” says Andy. “In my rooms they all held up to the 10 hours of intense flashing, strobing and moving. The mechanics are constantly in motion and the functions really keep up with the pumping pace of the DJs".

He programs live for shows like this, and is constantly discovering new looks from bouncing between functions. "That’s where all the 'hidden looks' are discovered, but only if the capabilities of the moving light can keep up with your creative decisions!"

He thinks the Robe REDWash is a great fixture, and likes their rectangular shaped LED lightsource. He's "Really looking forward" to using them again in the future.

The carnivalesque atmosphere of the Winter Sound System Festival was completed with numerous sideshow games, bustling market stalls and heart-pumping rides, all transforming Melbourne Park’s grounds into a booming fairground for the duration of the event.