• orn - 1e lighting Control Equipment ~ Why0-file7 The title Q-FILE aptly describes an extremely versatile stage and studio lighting control system in which "cues" (i.e. lighting changes) are "filed" (i.e. memorised) during rehearsal. These cues may then be repeated during a production with supreme ease and accuracy. Through this use of modern electronic technology the whole process of planning and using theatrical lighting becomes an "armchair" exercise. Even the most ambitious lighting changes can be initiated by the operation of no more than two push buttons. Contents Page Why Q-File 2 Highlights of Q-File 3 Advantages of Q -File 5 The Q-File Console Panel 6- 7 Lighting a scene by use of the Circuit Controller 8- 9 Memorising and recalling a lighting scene by use of the Memory Controller ro- 12 Other Q-File Standard facilities 13 Optional extra facilities l 3 Typical lighting exercises 14 Choosing the size of system l 5 Duplex system l 5 The technical principle of Q-File 15- 18 Summary of facilities l 8 Thorn overseas companies 20 2 Highlights of 0-file • 100 separate memories can be used individually or in any combination. • Memories include full range of brightness levels. e Memory recall as Instant Action or Automatic Fade/Crossfade. • Independent simultaneous control of Fade-Up and Fade-Down at different speeds. • Memories can be added or subtracted with instant effect during a Fade or Crossfade. • Instant manual over-ride of all circuits at all times. e Facility for "Blind" Plotting or modifying memories without affecting lighting in use. • Ability to control up to 390 lighting circuits with · -:lividual power ratings of up to 10 kilowatts. e Mimic diagram shows circuits in use at all times. A Thorn Q-File Electronic Lighting Control Console, complete with circuit mimic. Advantages of Q-F ile Q-FILE is the most sophisticated equipment of its type in the world and the most convenient and simple to operate. Convenient? What other system offers full control of up to 390 circuits from a panel only 2 square feet in area? One seated operator has every control at his fingertips, and foot operations are eliminated. 1nple to Operate? Simplicity and speed must be related, so consider the following evidence : I. At the beginning of a lighting rehearsal, any or all lighting circuits can be switched On in groups of tens or hundreds in about 3 seconds. This time includes the selection of any required common starting level of intensity. 2. Any individual circuit can be selected and adjusted in about 2 seconds at all times. The need to match the fader to an existing memorised circuit level is eliminated by an automatic servo "tion. The complete lighting situation at any time can be recorded in any selected memory in less than 2 seconds. 4. A succession of memorised lighting changes can be recalled at a speed in excess of one change per second. Also, except in rare instances, any lighting change can be initiated by pressing one push button. The timing of changes is therefore reduced to the ultimate simplicity of a single operator actwn. " on cue " . 5 The 0-file Console Panel MEMORY CONTROLLER OFF CIRCUIT CONTROLLER SYSTEM MEMORIES MEMORIES IN USE CIRCUITS CLEAR LOCAL MIX SET ·i I STUDIO ALL J CIRCUITS + PRESET~ I STUDIO PRESET MASTER FADE FADER DURATION CIRCUIT STUDIO PRESET UP DOWN FADER ,--..;;;;:- ( -CANCEL CANCEL 1 CANCEL ) ALL I ALL I ALL I CIRCUITS CIRCUITS ~ CIRCUITS ' SELECT I r~~:-~ PRESE~ SELECT r:IRQITS - Ii:;;;;;; STUDIO I I TO ZERO ' 1• FADE_ + + UP FADE DOWN FADE •r+ ~ PROGRESS PROGRESS 1 ~ PLUS - r• FADE _ F - , ~ Two-thirds full size. On examining the panel, it will be noticed much the same way as the second preset in a The most noticeable feature of the QFile that certain controls are grouped under the conventional two scene preset manual system. control console is the absence of the usual banks headings "Studio" and "Preset". These terms However, in the Q-File equivalents, these two and rows of circuit faders. This unnecessary identify two computer type storage elements, in presets are coupled to a memory bank which and space-consuming arrangement has been each of which electronic data representing enables one hundred different lighting scenes superseded by a single servo controlled fader individual lighting circuits can be assembled to to be recorded from, and subsequently recalled associated with a compact group of circuit selection represent a complete lighting scene. to, either preset. The overall concept is push buttons, and although this involves some therefore comparable to a manual system departure from traditional operating procedure, The data in the Studio store determines the having roo presets plus numerous added experience has shown that this new technique existing lighting while that in tl}e Preset store advantages due to the speed and flexibility of is easily learned and accepted with enthusiasm. can represent a follow-up lighting situation in the electronic processes involved. 6 7 Lighting a scene by use of the Circuit Controller How to uSet all Circuits" to a Common Starting Level How to Switch on Circuits before switching on~ and adjust their Individual Levels. Firstly depress the "SELECT STUDIO" CIRCUIT CONTROLLER button to obtain direct control of the lights. CIRCUIT CONTROLLER CIRCUITS CIRCUITS SET All I CIRCUITS CIRCUIT CIRCUI T FADER ( FADER Mimic Diagram shows Circuits in use at all times CANCEL ? All ~ CIRCUITS 1---@ SELECT SELECT PRESET PR ES ET SELECT STUDIO Note The CIRCUIT FADER has the ability to move automatically to the existing level for any selected circuit.. Thus, if the SET ALL CIRCUITS facility has been used, the fader will return automatically to the common level whenever a new circuit is selected for switching On and individual adjustment. A M ovethe B Press the A Press the B Switch on the C Readjust the CIRCUIT button appropriate circuit at the CIRCUIT FADER to marked SET CIRCUIT common FADER to the required ALL buttons. For starting level produce the common CIRCUITS "' ample, to by pressing required brightness \ et circuit the ON/OFF brightness level. umber 23 , button. (Note level for this press "2" in that repeated particular the left hand operation of circuit. Repeat this process of selecting, switching On column and this button " 3" in the will switch the and adjusting circuits until the required overall right hand circuit On lighting effect is achieved. It should be noted that column. and Off any number of separate circuits can be selected at the alternatively.) same time and controlled as a group. Note: The computer has now been instructed to switch On particular circuits and to set their levels Note in accordance with action (c). These two instructions This action provides the computer with its first will be separately remembered for each circuit until instruction and individual circuits may now be such time as a deliberate change is made. Thus, a switched On at the common level. subsequent switch Off action will not "lose" the chosen level. 8 9 Memorising and recalling a li9hting scene by use of the Memory Controller How to Recall a Lighting Scene as a Switch Action How to Memorise the First Lighting scene. (i.e. HSnap" cue). MEMORY CONTROLLER OFF MEMORY CONTROLLER OFF MEMORIES MEMORIES IN USE MEMORIES L AL MIX MIX STUDIO PRESET+ 1 STUDIO PRESET STUDIO PR ES ET MASTER MASTER FADER FADER RECORD STUDIO PRESET STUDIO PRESET 1 ( ·- CANCEL CANCEL ,MEMORY ALL ALL l MEMORY SEQ CIRCUITS CIRCUITS . SEO ~ 4 4 MINUS .-r I [MINUS~ - !·DOWN CIRQITS - .DOWN CIRQ~ FADE FADE TD ZERO m m TO ZERO _, m m + + I + + UP FADE DOWN FADE _ UP UP FADE DOWN FADE PROGRESS PROGRESS j + • PROGRESS PROGRESS FADE ) PLUS ii pt sI + FADE • -~ >==· - ,. ~ 0 CUT - ' ~~~ CUT p. -~ A Choose any convenient 8 Press the STUDIO A Select the B Press the CUT button to memory number and RECORD button. Memory recall the Lighting Scene press the appropriate The selected memory will number recorded in memory 42. buttons in the group now contain a complete required labelled MEMORIES: record of the present (e.g. 42). Memory number I is a lighting. logical starting point and is selected by pressing "o" in the left hand By repeating this process, all the rehearsed column and "1" in the lighting changes can be recalled scene by scene. right hand column. Note As in the case of a tape recording, the memory is controller as before. The result is then memorised Note: Adding and subtracting Memories permanent and will remain unchanged until by selecting, say, Memory No. 2 and again pressing Use of the CUT button replaces all the previous deliberately erased or replaced with new instructions. the STUDIO RECORD button. lighting with that represented by the new memory. It is therefore unaffected by switching Off the Alternatively, the Scene r lighting may be It is, however, possible to retain the existing lighting equipment when the studio is not in use. extinguished by pressing the CANCEL ALL but to add to this the additional circuits represented With the Scene r lighting in Memory No. r, let CIRCUITS button, and the original process in a new memory. This is achieved by selecting the us now consider the next lighting change. This may repeated for Scene 2. memory to be added and then pressing the STUDIO simply involve a few different lights or brightness In this way, every lighting change for an entire PLUS button. Any number of memories may be levels, in which case the Scene r lighting is retained show can be placed on record as a series of up to one added in this way and subsequently subtracted by but modified where necessary by use of the circuit hundred different memories.