Stage Lighting Controls

by Sandstrom, Ulf

• ISBN13: 9780240514765
• ISBN10: 0240514769
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1997-11-01
• Publisher: Focal Pr

Summary

Stage Lighting Controls gives the reader an historical overview of the way in which modern control systems have evolved, and then explains the general principles of modern computerised lighting consoles and relevant control standards such as DMX512, MIDI and Ethernet. It also covers the basic aspects of controlling moving lights and scrollers and provides a product profile for ten major manufacturers of lighting controls. Written in accessible language, the book is ideal for both novices and practising lighting designers who need to get updated on current practices and equipment. It is also relevant for stage managers, electricians, technicians and any other production staff who are involved in situations where lights are controlled. Cuts through the complexity of modern equipment Helps operators to move from system to system more easily Written by an experienced trainer

Table of Contents

Preface	xi	(4)
Acknowledgements	xv	(4)
Introduction to the basic elements of lighting control	xix
Part 1--Background and Basics	1	(64)
Introduction	1	(2)
1 The evolution of lighting control	3	(31)
Why bother with history?	3	(1)
Sunlight and fire	3	(1)
Candlelight	3	(1)
Gaslight	4	(1)
Electric light	5	(1)
Resistance dimming	5	(1)
Liquid resistance dimmers	5	(1)
First single-scene boards with groups	6	(1)
Wirewound resistance dimmers	7	(1)
Early lighting companies	8	(1)
Mechanical auto-transformer dimmers	8	(1)
Electromechanical remote control	9	(2)
First all-electric dimmers	11	(1)
The last action principle	11	(1)
Multi-scene presetting	11	(1)
Load patching	12	(1)
Group fading	13	(1)
The solid state dimmer -- a landmark!	14	(1)
Memory in lighting controls	15	(1)
The first `true' memory board -- a landmark!	15	(3)
Why memory boards?	18	(1)
Computers and lighting controls	19	(1)
The first computer board on Broadway	20	(1)
The industry expands	21	(1)
Microprocessors and touring consoles	21	(1)
Two control `philosophies' so far	22	(1)
A third philosophy -- tracking consoles	23	(4)
Memory boards for concert lighting	27	(1)
Memory controls all the way...	27	(2)
DMX512 -- a communications landmark!	29	(1)
Moving lights and scrollers	29	(1)
Moving functions in consoles	30	(2)
Ethernet and networking	32	(1)
Where are we now?	33	(1)
2 What kinds of lighting consoles are there?	34	(20)
The playing factor of a console	34	(1)
The playback capacity of a console	34	(1)
The concept of manual desks	35	(6)
The concept of `live' consoles	41	(1)
The concept of theatre `playback' consoles	42	(5)
The concept of moving light consoles	47	(7)
3 What does a lighting console consist of?	54	(5)
Hardware and software	54	(1)
Channels	55	(1)
Soft patch	55	(1)
Submasters	55	(1)
Cue playbacks	55	(1)
Grand Master	56	(1)
Blackout key	56	(1)
Function keys	57	(1)
Visual feedback -- monitors and displays	57	(1)
Outputs and inputs	57	(2)
4 How to functions interact in a console?	59	(6)
Highest takes precedence (HTP)	59	(2)
Latest takes precedence (LTP)	61	(2)
Channel control	63	(1)
Summary	64	(1)
Part 2--General Console Features	65	(54)
Introduction	65	(2)
5 Patching	67	(5)
Load patching	67	(1)
Control patching	67	(1)
Soft and proportional patching	68	(2)
Channel numbering confusion	70	(2)
6 Channels	72	(10)
General	72	(1)
`Theatre style' channel keypad	72	(8)
Groups	80	(2)
7 Submasters	82	(4)
Additive or inhibitive	83	(1)
Submaster faders	83	(1)
Flashing a submaster -- bump keys	83	(1)
Submaster pages	84	(2)
8 Cue playbacks	86	(24)
What can a cue consist of?	87	(1)
The order in which cues can be stored	87	(4)
Cue fade times	91	(7)
What is a cue playback?	98	(1)
Preset-oriented playbacks	98	(4)
Group fading playbacks	102	(3)
Tracking playbacks	105	(5)
9 Effects	110	(3)
Direction of an effect	110	(1)
Additive or subtractive	111	(1)
Transitions between steps	111	(1)
Transitions between effects	111	(1)
Sound control of an effect	112	(1)
Rate control of an effect	112	(1)
10 Macro functions	113	(2)
Macros for programming	113	(1)
Controlling moving lights (Avolites)	114	(1)
Macros for playback	114	(1)
11 Storing and printing shows	115	(4)
Floppy diskette drive	115	(1)
Hard disk drive (HDD)	116	(1)
Memory card	116	(1)
Compatibility between consoles	116	(1)
Printing a show	117	(2)
Part 3 Console Features for Specific Lighting Devices	119	(32)
Introduction	119	(2)
12 Dimmers	121	(10)
DMX address	121	(1)
Different response curves	122	(6)
Dimmer monitoring systems	128	(3)
13 Scrollers	131	(7)
Controlling a scroller	131	(1)
Attributes	131	(1)
Colour attributes	132	(1)
Fan attributes	133	(1)
Speed attributes	134	(1)
Scrollers in submasters	134	(1)
Scrollers in cue playbacks	135	(1)
Rigging scrollers	135	(1)
Designing with scrollers	136	(2)
14 Moving lights	138	(13)
Moving yokes	138	(1)
Moving mirrors	138	(3)
Controlling a moving light	141	(5)
Moving light functions in consoles	146	(2)
Rigging moving lights	148	(1)
Conclusion	148	(3)
Part 4--Communication	151	(40)
Introduction	151	(2)
15 Communication standards (in the lighting industry)	153	(6)
Who defines a standard?	153	(1)
Borrowed standards	154	(1)
What does a specification consist of?	154	(1)
Electrical and physical characteristics	154	(1)
Open or closed loop	155	(1)
Summary	155	(4)
16 Analogue control and DMX512	159	(8)
Analogue control	159	(1)
Advantages of analogue control	159	(1)
Limitations of analogue control	159	(1)
Multiplexing	160	(2)
DMX512 -- a Revolution!	162	(5)
17 Ethernet and networking	167	(9)
What is Ethernet?	167	(1)
What is networking?	168	(1)
The network `transports' show data	168	(1)
Basic terms involved in networking	168	(7)
A rule of thumb	175	(1)
18 Midi and time code	176	(7)
Basic MIDI glossary	176	(1)
The physical side of MIDI	177	(1)
MIDI in lighting consoles	178	(2)
MIDI Show Control	180	(1)
MIDI Machine Control	181	(1)
SMPTE and MIDI Time Code	182	(1)
19 ASCII light cues	183	(8)
A standard show format	183	(1)
Editing an ASCII Light Cues file	183	(8)
Part 5--Troubleshooting	191	(2)
20 Troubleshooting	191	(2)
1. Operator errors	191	(1)
2. Bugs in the software	191	(1)
3. Faulty power	192	(1)
4. Faulty DMX installation	192	(1)
Appendix 1--Contact information	193	(4)
1. Lighting industry organizations	193	(1)
2. Organizations holding standards used in the lighting industry	194	(1)
3. Manufacturers discussed in this book	195	(2)
Appendix 2--An historical overview of some manufacturers	197	(12)
ADB (Belgium)	197	(1)
ARRI (discontinued)	198	(1)
AVAB (Sweden)	198	(2)
Avolites (UK)	200	(1)
Celco (UK)	201	(1)
Compulite (Israel)	202	(1)
ETC (US)	203	(1)
Flying Pig Systems (UK)	204	(1)
Strand Lighting (UK)	205	(1)
Transtechnik (Germany)	206	(1)
US Market: a general background	207	(2)
Bibliography	209	(1)
Index	210