The Automated Lighting Programmer's Handbook »

Brad Schiller has over 20 years experience in the lighting industry. He has worked as a Technical Director and Lighting Designer, as well as an Automated Lighting Programmer. He has also been employed by High End Systems where he has assisted with product development, training, and testing for many popular fixtures and consoles. Brad has experience with various types of productions including theatre, television, concerts, film, architectural, dance, and industrials. Project favorites include: The 1996 Academy Awards, the Capitol of Puerto Rico, The Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies, The Crystal Method, and Metallica. Brad Schiller is also a featured columnist for Projection Lights and Staging News (PLSN). His monthly column titled "Feeding the Machines" teaches programming principles in a simple and straightforward manner. Furthermore, he has written for other industry publications and authored several industry manuals. Brad was presented with the Technician of the Year award at the 2005 LDI awards ceremony and described as “the programmer’s programmer”.

From basic principles of automated lighting, to pre-production preparations, the text details concepts, procedures, and guidelines to ensure a successful production. Then the author continues with in-depth explanations for beginning, intermediate, and advanced programmers. Additional sections explore troubleshooting principles, working relationships, and future technologies. For the final chapter of the book, the author interviewed many respected lighting industry veterans including John Broderick, Christian Choi, Laura Frank, Jim Lenahan, and Arnold Serame.

* Linear aspect of building a show from beginning to end
* Includes author's Sydney 2000 Olympic Journal
* Advice from respected industry pros including Christian Choi, Laura Frank, and John Broderick

List of Tables and Figures

Acknowledgments

Introduction

10 Things Every Programmer Should Know

#1 Understanding the Fixtures

#2 Basic Console Operations

#3 Patching and Addressing

#4 Making Lights Move

#5 Long Hours and Late Nights

#6 Subtractive versus Additive Color Mixing

#7 Tracking

#8 Protect the Data

#9 How to Admit Your Faults

#10 Who to Call

But Wait! There's More...

1 Programming Philosophies 1

The Automated Lighting Programmer 1

The Hollywood Syndrome 2

Creativity and Consistency 3

Learning to Program 3

Look for Opportunities 4

Programming Exercises 4

Explore Your World 5

Never Stop Learning 5

Be an Artist 5

2 Automated Lighting Concepts 7

DMX-512 7

DMX Protocols 8

Fixture Modes 9

Crossfade 10

Bump 10

Parameter Abilities 10

Precedence (HTP and LTP) 11

Tracking 11

Nontracking Consoles 11

Tracking Consoles 12

Advantages of Tracking 13

Disadvantages of Tracking 14

Practice Makes Perfect 14

3 Preparing for Programming 15

Fixture Setup 15

The Console 16

Preparing the Patch 19

Numbers Everywhere 21

Groups 22

Grouping Basics 23

Too Many Numbers 23

Selecting with Groups 24

Additional Group Features 24

Read All About it 25

Building a Basic Outline 25

Protecting Your Work 25

Always Be Prepared 29

4 Basic Programming 31

Understanding Your Fixtures 31

Speed Channels 33

Conventional Channels 35

Palettes/Presets 37

5 Intermediate Programming 41

Mark Cues 41

Tricks of the Trade 42

Automated Mark Cues 43

The Magic of Marking 44

Block Cues 44

Marking and Blocking 45

Organization 46

Overblocking 46

Effects Generators 46

The DMX Protocol 47

Trigonometry to the Rescue 47

Modifying the Starting Point 47

Modifying the Size and Rate 48

Offsetting Each Fixture 49

Different Wave Forms 49

Other Parameters 50

Intensity Effects 51

Adding Dynamics 51

Adjusting Intensity Effects 52

Use Effects Wisely 53

Kickin' It Old School 53

The Fireworks Chase 54

Making the Magic 55

Timing 55

Modern Miracles 56

Applying Concepts 56

Common Chases 56

Fanning 58

The Origins of Fanning 58

Basic Fanning Procedures 58

The Order of Fixture Selection 59

But Wait! There's More... 60

Now is the Time 60

Stay Cool as You Fan 61

6 Advanced Programming 63

Default Values 63

Using Default Values 64

Custom Default Values 65

Study the Defaults 65

Deciding upon Defaults 66

Visualization 66

How It Works 66

Benefits 67

Programming 67

Cueing 68

Two-Way Communication 68

Program Anywhere 68

It's Time for Timecode 69

The History of Timecode 69

Defining Timecode 70

Timecode and Lighting 70

Changing Time 71

Hidden Dangers 71

Back to the Future 72

The Magic of MIDI 72

Lighting Applications 72

MIDI Notes 73

MIDI Show Control 74

Be Prepared 76

Other-Types of Automation 76

Automation Abounds 77

7 Digital Lighting: The Future Is Here 79

Content 80

New Jobs 81

Point of View 82

Servers and Display Devices 82

New Functionality and Terminology 83

Programming Digital Lighting 84

Enough Is Enough 85

Working with Layers 86

The Console Problem 86

Fixture Numbering 87

Patching the Parts 87

The Missing Link 87

The Future Is Now 88

8 LED Lighting 89

LED RGB Mixers 89

LED RGB Cells 90

LED Moving Lights 91

LED Digital Lights 91

LED Video Displays 92

Pixel Mapping 92

Making It Easy 93

9 The Age of Networking 95

Network Setup 95

Networking Basics 95

Multi-User Programming 96

Network Backup and Failover 97

Distributed Processing 97

DMX Distribution 97

Connectivity 98

Remote Access 98

RDM and What It Means to You 99

E1.31: The New Frontier 99

Ease of Use 100

10 Programming Genres 101

Structured and Corporate Theatre 101

Organization 102

Conventionals 103

Dual Consoles 103

Prepared Theatrics 104

Concert Tours 104

It Is All About the Music 105

Before You Program 105

Cue Building 106

Standard Operating Procedure 107

Every Concert Is Different 107

Television Events 107

The Cameras Are You Eyes 108

Adjusting for the Camera 109

Colors and Their Temperature 110

The Magic of Television 110

The Magic Box 110

Music Festivals and One-Offs 111

Organize Your Data 111

Programming 112

One Approach 112

Visiting LDs 113

Fun for All 113

Architectural Installations 113

Where Is FOH? 114

Look at the Time 114

User Interactions 115

Maintenance 115

Permanent Joys 116

11 Troubleshooting 117

Common Problems 117

Data Problems 117

Console Problems 118

Network Problems 119

Fixture Problems 119

Operator Error 119

Getting Help 120

Emergency Preparedness 120

Be Prepared 120

Safety of Others 121

Personal Safety 121

The Actor's Point of View 122

Safety First 122

12 Programmer and Designer Relationships 123

People Are People 123

Types of LDs 124

Troubled Waters 124

Changing Tides 125

Life Is Like a Box of Chocolates 125

13 Words of Wisdom from Industry Professionals 127

Butch Allen, Designer and Programmer 128

Jason Badger, Programmer 128

Mike Baldassari, Designer 128

Automated Lighting Inventor and Visionary Richard Belliveau Belliveau, Richard 129

Allen Branton, Designer 129

John Broderick, Designer 129

Dall Brown, Designer 130

Mark Butts, Programmer 130

David Chance, Designer 130

Christian Choi, Programmer 131

Vickie Claiborne, Programmer 131

David Davidian, Designer 131

Patrick Dierson, Designer and Programmer 132

C. Andrew Dunning, Designer and Programmer 132

Mike Falconer, Programmer 132

John Featherstone, Designer 133

Cory Fitzgerald, Programmer 133

Laura Frank, Programmer 133

Demfis Fyssicopulos, Programmer 134

Craig Gaff, Designer and Programmer 134

Steve Garner, Programmer 134

Jon Griffin, Designer and Programmer 134

Tim Grivas, Programmer 135

Rob Halliday, Programmer 135

Bryan Hartley, Designer and Programmer 135

Bud Horowitz, Designer and Programmer 136

Steve Irwin, Designer and Programmer 136

Seth Jackson, Designer and Programmer 136

Mark "Junior" Jacobson, Designer and Programmer 137

Shannon January, Designer and Programmer 137

David "Gurn" Kaniski, Designer and Programmer 137

Mats Karlson, Programmer 138

Eric Kennedy, Programmer 138

Tom Kenny, Designer 138

Hillary Knox, Programmer 138

Marcus Kromer, Programmer 139

Jim Lenahan, Designer 139

Steve Lieberman, Designer and Programmer 140

Esteban Lima, Designer 140

Heath Marrinan, Designer and Programmer 140

Michael Nevitt, Programmer 141

Adrian Ngieng, Programmer 141

Paul Normandale, Designer 141

Jim Ohrberg, Designer and Programmer 141

Steve Owens, Designer 142

Mitch Peebles, Programmer 142

Paul Pelletier, Programmer 142

John Rayment, Designer 142

Benoit Richard, Designer and Programmer 143

Scott Riley, Designer and Programmer 143

Larry "Uncle Fester" Robbins, Designer and Programmer 144

Timothy F. Rogers, Programmer 144

Susan Rose, Programmer 144

Arnold Serame, Designer and Programmer 145

Marsha Stern, Designer 145

Henry M. Sume, Designer and Programmer 145

Howard Ungerleider, Designer 146

Lawrence Upton, Designer 146

Jon "Hillbilly" Weir, Designer and Programmer 146

Ross Williams, Designer and Programmer 147

Appendix A Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Journal 149

Appendix B Metallica Touring Journal 169

Appendix C The Crystal Method Tour: A Case Study 187

Glossary 205

Index 209