![]() ![]() On midrange controllers, these are usually provided as a section separate from main Preset and Cue stack controls. As well as being capable of controlling ordinary luminaires via dimmers, they provide additional controls for intelligent fixtures. Moving Light Controllers are another step up in sophistication from Memory Consoles. ![]() On more advanced consoles, faders can be used to control effects, chases (sequences of cues), and moving light effects (if the console can control moving lights). The console may also have provision to operate in analog to a manual desk for programming scenes or live control. These faders can be programmed to control a single channel (a channel is a lighting designer's numerical name for a dimmer or group of dimmers) or a group of channels (known as a ""submaster""). Many memory consoles have a bank of faders. They also allow for lighting cues to contain larger channel counts due to the same time savings gained from not physically moving individual channel faders. Memory consoles are preferable in productions where scenes do not change from show to show, such as a theatre production, because scenes are designed and digitally recorded, so there is less room for human error, and less time between lighting cues is required to produce the same result. This type of controller has almost completely replaced preset consoles as controllers of choice. Memory-based consoles have become very popular in almost all larger installations, particularly theatres. However, this is not recommended since it is a cumbersome process.Īn Avolites Tiger Touch console capable of controlling both normal stage lighting instruments as well as intelligent lighting. Preset boards generally control only conventional lights though some advanced hybrid consoles can be patched to operate intelligent lights in a round-about way by setting the control channels of the light to channels the preset board can control. However, for small setups such as that of a DJ, they remain the board of choice for their simple to use interface and relative flexibility. Preset boards are not as prevalent since the advent of digital memory consoles, which can store scenes digitally, and are generally much less cumbersome but more expensive than preset boards. Then the operator makes the transition between the scenes using the cross-fader. Typically during a cue, the operator sets the next scene. The operator sets the faders into their positions based on the cue sheets. Generally, at least with a preset board, the operator has a cue sheet for each scene, which is a diagram of the board with the faders in their positions, as determined by the lighting designer. So the console operator can build a scene offline or in "blind", a cross-fader or submaster is used to selectively mix or fade between the different scenes. ![]() Each scene has the same number of channels which control the same dimmers. The faders (control slides) on these scenes can be manually adjusted. They consist of two or more identical fader banks, called scenes. Preset boards are the most basic lighting consoles-and also the most prevalent in smaller installations. Most consoles accept MIDI Show Control signals and commands to allow show control systems to integrate their capabilities into more complex shows.Īn Avolites Pearl Expert with optional Touch Wing, running the Titan control system. The purpose of all lighting consoles, however is the same: to consolidate control of the lights into an organized, easy-to-use system, so that the lighting designer can concentrate on producing a good show. A common protocol for this is ESTA E1.31 sACN (pronounced: streaming A.C.N.) or Art-Net.Ĭonsoles vary in size and complexity, from small preset boards to dedicated moving light consoles. Some lighting consoles can communicate over a Local IP network infrastructure to provide control over more scalable systems. 0-10 V analog lighting control) may still be found in use, and newer protocols such as ACN and DMX-512-A are evolving to meet the demands of ever increasing device sophistication. The most common protocol used in the entertainment industry today is DMX512, although other protocols (e.g. Lighting consoles communicate with the dimmers and other devices in the lighting system via an electronic control protocol. ![]()
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