The Automated Lighting Demonstration makes use of a wide range of lighting technologies. These include automated and conventional luminairs (lighting instruments); a dimming and circuiting system; control equipment with associated control protocols and data distribution systems; control system software; digital sound editing and hard disc recording software; and fog and atmospheric effects equipment.
 

1) Lighting Equipment

Three types of Conventional fixed focus lighting instruments are used in the show.
 

The PAR64 (Parabolic Aluminized Reflector) is  comprised of only two parts, the PAR lamp and the can/yoke/clamp assembly. Lamps of different wattages and beam spreads can be used to achieve different effects. In the demonstration all PARs are lamped with 1000 watt VNSP (Very Narrow Spot) lamps. The primary accessory used in a PAR is color. (Click the image for product information and specifications from Altman Stage Lighting.)

The Source 4 PAR is not a really a PAR. It uses the same 575 watt halogen lamp as the Source 4 below and an internal  reflector to produce a beam similar to a PAR64. Different beam spreads can be achieved by fitting alternate diffusers into the front of the unit.  (Click on the image for specifications from Electronic Theatre Controls.)

 

The Source 4 Ellipsoidal Reflector Spotlight is a focusing spotlight with 4 framing shutters and a fixed focal length lens assembly. The demonstration uses Source 4s with Field Angles of 50°, 36°, 26°, and 19°. Accessories used include Color, Color Extenders, Patterns, and Drop in Irises. (Click on the image for specifications from Electronic Theatre Controls.)

Automated equipment includes four Trackspot automated Luminairs.
 

The Trackspot automated luminair is a compact but powerful unit that allows the remote control of  intensity, shutter (strobe), color, pattern, focus (X,Y mirror position), and mirror movement speed. Functions are controlled by sending DMX-512 intensity data to the  unit as if it were a series of seven dimmers. The level information (a number between 0-255) is converted by the unit into specific functions. To see an example what channels control what functions see Trackspot Magic Sheet.

 
 

2) Dimming and Control Equipment
 

The Culbreth Theatre's permanently installed  Sensor Dimming System and its associated circuit distribution system provides the theatre with 360 dimmers each with a capacity of 2400 watts at 120 volts. Each dimmer in the four Sensor racks is connected to one or more circuits in the theatre. Dimmer intensity levels are controlled remotely from the Obsession control console via DMX-512 dimmer protocol. The Sensor Dimmers send and receive dimmer operating  information such as load status or error information back to the Obsession via ETCLink network protocol. The Sensor Racks also receive an analog control signal (0-10 volts) from the houselight control system allowing independent control of assigned house and work light dimmers.

A Show Control System was created to provide master control of cue timing and sequencing with the CD audio soundtrack. Our current system is comprised of a Gateway 2000 Pentium 250 with a SCSI bus and hard drive, 32x SCSI CD-ROM drive, 4x SCSI CD recorder, and an Antex Studio Card AV/Pro digital sound/MIDI card. The software that sequences the show is Status Cue (see below). It communicates bi-directionally with the Obsession Control Console via MIDI show-control. For specific information on how to set up your own Show Control System see An inexpensive MIDI show-control system.

 

The Obsession Control Console is the heart of the lighting control system. It provides intensity level control for all 360 dimmers in the sensor racks via DMX-512 output #1. DMX-512 output #2 sends dimmer/level data to the four Trackspot fixtures used in the demonstration and fog volume level information to the Rosco 1600 Fog Machine. Obsession also acts as the server on a network of control system components made up of two remote "nodes" that replicate many of the ports on the Obsession and allow the connection of remote monitors, keyboards and other peripherals. The nodes allow controller information and functions to be accessed from different locations in the theatre. The nodes communicate with Obsession via ETCnet, a proprietary ether net protocol. Obsession can send and receive cue execution commands via MIDI show-control or sync to an external clock source via SMPTE time-code. (Click image for more information about the Obsession/Obsession II consoles from Electronic Theatre Controls).

 

3) Software

Lighting software:
 

The Obsession (system software) version 2.42  will only run on a dedicated Obsession Controller. Obsession 2.42 is designed for use primarily as a theatrical "tracking" lighting controller. The Obsession Off-line editor is a DOS based application that allows Obsession show information to be edited on any PC computer. For more information about basic lighting controller functions see Design. (Click screen image for free download of Obsession Off-line 2.42 from Electronic Theatre Controls)

Status Cue is a software based lighting control system manufactured by High End Systems. The Automated Lighting Demonstration uses only the software's cue-list function. (See Show Controller above). The Status Cue cue-list is synchronized with the CD audio time code, and outputs MIDI show-control to Obsession which in turn executes the light cues. Click the screen image to download Status Cue free from High End Systems. For specific information on how to set up your own Show Control System see An inexpensive MIDI show-control system.

 
 

Software used in the construction of the Soundtrack and Audio CD:
 

WinDAC allows digital audio data to be copied from an audio CD directly to the hard drive as a WAV file for editing. (A shareware version is available for download from the author's web site).

CoolEdit  is a "destructive" audio editor that is used to trim audio tracks ripped with WinDAC. (A shareware version is available for download from Syntrillium).

 

SAW32 is a "non-destructive" audio editing program. It is used to create regions of audio data from WAV files on disc. Regions are then combined in in a muti-track for playback. The final mix down is mastered to a single stereo WAV file for transfer to CD. (A demonstration version is available for download from IQS Software)

EasyCD Pro was used to write the master WAV file to an Audio CD.

 

 4) Fog and Effects Equipment
 

A Rosco 1600 Fog Machine is used to create dense clouds of fog used to reveal light in the air. Fog is produced by vaporizing a special fog fluid under high heat. The Rosco 1600 is controlled from the Obsession via a DMX-512 interface. (Click the image for product information from Rosco).

The Rosco Hazemaker which runs continuously before, during , and after the demonstration, creates a light diffused haze in the air. Haze is created by forcing compressed air through a special haze fluid at room temperature. (Click the image for product information from Rosco).

 

Return to Automated Lighting Demonstration Home