Light On The Subject I By Andrew Rich & Erik Viker

The Wybron Forerunner Robotic Motion New lighting options are available for small to medium-sized theaters.

theater company does not need a Broadway-sized The simplest type of automated lighting equipment is the budget to bring state-of-the-art automated lighting color scroller, a narrow, box-like unit housing a string of gels equipment to the . Although at first glance mounted on an existing instrument A scroller can rapidly place robotic lighting instruments might seem too com- different color gels in front of the light beam, allowing one instru- plicated or costly, a modest investment in new technology ment to do the work of many for color washes and specials. Gel will enhance lighting design options, increase inventory strings can be custom made with 11. 16 or 32 colors, depending versatility and dazzle audiences with new effects. One or two on the scroller model selected. The Wybron Forerunner automated instruments might take the place of many static (www.wybron.com) model costs about $590 per scroller and fixtures and allow instant color changing and color mixing. $850 for a power supply suitable for up to 16 scrollers. Other Moving-head instruments can create rotating patterns, models are less costly and certainly serviceable, but the interesting fades and isolation effects, while visible light Forerunner is especially quick and very quiet Cable require- beams can conjure dramatic design opportunities. ments for this equipment upgrade include enough DMX 512 cable to reach from the lighting console to the power supply and enough four-pin scroller cable to install the units where desired. Another attachment-style upgrade for existing lighting inven- tory is the Rosco I-Cue Intelligent Mirror (www.rosco.com) attachment, which uses a moving mirror to direct the light beam to different positions. The I-Cue fits into most standard 6.25-inch gel frame holders on existing instruments including the ETC (www.etcconnect.com) and Strand SL (www.strandlighting.com) fixtures. The Rosco I-Cue also requires standard DMX control cable and four-pin XLR 24vDC cables. ....=> A theater company with a modest but flexible budget might consider a top-of-the-line moving-mirror fixture. This => .... instrument type uses an automated mirror to direct the beam n of light to various positions and can be customized with options including moving patterns, color changing, strobes and other special effects. The fixture itself does not move, so this option is ideal for tight spaces and when instal- lation near other instruments is necessary. One of the indus- ~ try's most popular moving-mirror fixtures is High End ~ 0 Systems' famous Cyberlight (www.highend.com).an t6 extraordinary but expensive piece of equipment. Theater 5: ::0 0 companies with more modest budgets might consider the U >- :I: Technobeam, also by High End Systems, which is used in ~ 0:: nightclubs and sports arenas as well as theaters. The 0'" b Technobeam's light output. although less than the Cyberlight. 5:1 can be more than adequate in smaller venues. The ii 23 July 2005 .www.stage-directlons.com Light On The Subject

Technobeam includes a rotating, index- channels is vital. as some automated fix- able gobo wheel with seven replaceable tures could demand up to 33 channels gobo positions, a color wheel with 12 of control. Despite the need for more replaceable colors, a variable strobe, channels, a new control console may 180° pan and 95° tilt. iris effects and not be immediately necessary. Theaters manual zoom capacity from 11 ° to 17 °. using the ETCExpress or Expression Each unit starts at $3,995. consoles can choose the new Emphasis Theater companies considering a control upgrade. For example, an major automated lighting upgrade Express 250 console can upgrade to might look into full-motion moving-head 1.000 control channels with the pur- fixtures, which provide the most maneu- chase of an Emphasis 3D 1000 server at verability, creativity and excitement of a list price of $9,500, a small price to all robotic lighting. These fixtures use pay when many new control consoles the most control channels of all types of cost far more and might only include automated lighting and may require 500 control channels. The Hog II PC additional upgrades to control systems (www.flyingpig.com) software is a very and channels. Because the fixtures popular and efficient control software themselves can be large and move in package for automated lighting that can two planes, extra space is needed for be integrated with a common PC. This hanging each instrument. For smaller hardware/software console package, installation spaces and less extravagant including programming playback wings budgets, the Martin Professional MAC plus widget. sells for $9,642. The widg- 250 Krypton (www.martinpro.com) is et alone sells for $2,325.

A theate~ company does not need a Broadway-sized budget to bring state-of-the-art automated lighting equipment to the stage. ideal. This relatively low-cost moving- Theatrical lighting supply companies head alternative features high-speed can arrange training for new automated 540° pan capability with a tilt range of lighting operators, but hands-on experi- 257°, seven replaceable rotating and mentation is possibly the best way to indexable gobos, 12 replaceable colors learn about automated lighting. Other (including open and split positions), self-training resources include the onboard dimmer, shutter and strobe books Concert Lighting by James L. effects. The cost is about $3,250. Moody and The Automated Lighting When space and funding are readily Programmer's Handbook by Brad available, consider the new ETCSource Schiller. Both books are user-friendly Four Revolution, a powerful. expandable and provide accessible introductions (but large) moving-head instrument. The and advanced information about the base unit contains a zoom lens, a color implementation of moving-head fixtures. scroller and full motion with 5400 pan Although even modest automated range and 2700 tilt range. The Revolution lighting equipment requires a consid- is whisper-quiet and includes proven ETC erable investment. audiences and optical technology. The list price for the lighting designers will appreciate the base unit of a Revolution is $3,795 with new equipment. The cutting-edge four optional modules that can be pur- style, the sheer "wow" factor and the chased in addition to the base unit: Iris multitude of special effects available Module ($500), Static Wheel Module with automated lighting can enhance ($500), Rotating Wheel Module ($750) any theater's artistic experience. G or Shutter Module ($900). Of course, additional operating equip- Andrew Rich is an assistant professor ment will be necessary for any upgrade of theater at Susquehanna University. to automated lighting, along with plenty Erik Vikeris also an assistant professor of DMX cable and power supply cable. of theater at Sl1 where he serves as When upgrading, the number of control the department's .

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