It may seem a surprise to you that the tiny coffee shop lighting system uses the same type of equipment as a large-scale event, but its true. The internally wired bars are then connected to a patch panel (consisting of a row of numbered plugs) which connect into the dimmer racks which are usually positioned above the patch panels. A massive lighting show takes up a whole arena, bathing an artist or speaker in vibrant light. Many schools seem to use scaffold towers for this operation, but these can only be assembled by a suitably trained member of staff (or, more likely, an external contractor). These can be really useful in class, and mean you dont need to get the lighting desk every time you want a couple of lights on. LEDs are revolutionising the stage lighting world. DMX Terminators should be used at the end of a run of DMX cable. Roughly point the lantern in the direction it will be focussed. Cable management systems (such as the Jacobs Ladder system shown in the video below) exist which mean the lanterns can remain plugged in and connected to the dimmers when the bar is at rigging height (around 3 feet above the stage floor). This is where the you turn on and off the lights and give instructions for movement. When lights with color, movement, and gobos began to become popular, the industry had to change. For the most part, a DMX cable simply works, no matter what the situation, where a wireless setup can be difficult to make work reliably in situations where there is a lot of wireless activity in the space. Though wireless DMX has gained some popularity, there isnt a safe way to do wireless power yet! As well as the permanent installed dimmers, you should try to have a couple of portable dimmer packs available. They are terminated with 5 pin XLR connectors usually, but can also be used with 3 pin XLR connectors (as the DMX standard only uses 3 pins). It may be possible to use a portable system in conjunction with the permanent rig. Components: Information coming soon. For the moment, seeTypes of Lanterns, VIDEO DEMONSTRATING THE ABOVE COMING SOON. See Moving Lights under Lanterns (below) for more information. The most common small dimmer pack is 4 channels, which can be hung with your lighting to give you flexibility in your setup. Not as much as you think! If the system is correctly designed, the number of cables that have to be run around the lighting rig should be very small. A modern stage lighting system consists of a few main parts- consoles, fixtures, distribution/dimming, and cabling. DIAGRAM SHOWING MOVING LIGHT CONNECTION COMING SOON. Today, there are 2 main types of consoles may will run into: Back in the wild west of lighting, this is what you would see every single day simple lighting boards with rows and rows of faders each controlling a light or group of lights. In the professional world, moving lights initially had a completely separate console and programmer, but for beginners or intermediate-level users that just didnt happen. For this reason, the best plan is to use portable temporary lighting equipment. As with fixed LED lanterns, moving lights need a constant undimmed power supply, and a connection to the DMX512 signal from the lighting desk. But when were using LEDs or moving lights, we do NOT connect them into dimmers even if the dimmers are kept at full! They often feature large touchscreens, wheels to set attributes of the lights, buttons to type commands and faders for playback. As you may have guessed, cables are what ties that bind all of this lighting together. Understanding the basics can give you a great grasp on how to use any piece of lighting equipment. This avoids the need for access platformsand working at height, and can still produce excellent results. A difference in color or moving light position isnt necessarily higher or lower than where it was before, and it is very difficult to control these new lights on an older-style console. The lighting console takes the ideas from the hands of the lighting director and ultimately translates them into the DMX protocol to instruct the lights. All of the hook clamps should be around the same way. Make sure it has a safety bond attached and that any accessories are present (e.g. The dimmer racks are connected to industrial-type power sockets which give them enough power to run all of the necessary lanterns, and to a control connection from the lighting desk. Next we move on to the distribution and dimmers. To focus the lanterns, youll still need to get up to rig height, but this is considerably safer than having to rig them at height. However, an LED lantern must not be connected to a dimmer. A church hosts a service with 20 lights shining on the stage. More current moving lights use LED light sources which are far more energy-efficient, and also offer a wide range of colour possibilities. The rig can provide a basic general wash (possibly using two colours a warm and a cold gel) and the portable system can provide any special effects or colours. Many permanent systems will also use relays to switch on and off the power to LEDs and moving lights in order to make them live a longer life. This seems to be a major issue in many schools. I may often work in both a church and large event situation in the same week, goingin betweenlarge hotel ballrooms and small sanctuaries, using many of the same skills to bring excellence in lighting. Most modern lighting desks can operate in three ways; Check lantern for any visible damage, especially around the cable. It also needs a DMX512 connection, from the lighting desk. Wash Lights A soft-edged pool of light is produced, similar to that from a Fresnel. UNDER CONSTRUCTION Lanterns are plugged into their nearest socket. barn doors for a Fresnel or PC, shutters for a profile). Spot Lights A hard-edged spot of light, similar to that from a Profile. A portable system consists of a number of lanterns which can be rigged (set up) on telescopic stands at floor level. Prepare the lantern. DIAGRAM SHOWING LED CONNECTION, INCLUDING WAYS OF CONNECTING DMX512 COMING SOON. Enter the modern lighting console or software. In addition, cable is the best, most reliable way to move data and power to your lights. Each type of fixture has its own use and strengths/weaknesses. The first part of a stage lighting system is the console. These consoles are pretty simple, and some offer the ability to make a cue list to pre-program a show, or a chase function to offer some beat-based music playback. Although they are far more complex than standard lanterns, moving lights can save vast amounts of time, and can also solve the problems of access to fixed lighting bars mentioned above. All Rights Reserved. These consoles can work great for conventional lights and a few LEDs, but really get difficult to work with as the amount of channels each light has increases. Just because a fixture is good for one use or type of event doesnt mean that itll work for another use! (There are 1 or 2 exceptions out there, where a moving light also takes a dimmed power , but that is rare). Written by Jon Primrose please send comments / requests for additions to me via the Contact Us button above. A traditional lantern is plugged into a dimmer. relays to switch on and off the power to LEDs. While the type of events may be very different, the lighting systems actually have a lot in common. Any lighting system consists of the following parts: More information on each part of the system can be found below. These can be controlled by a modern computerised lighting desk, and (after an initial learning curve) are straightforward to use. The lighting desk can be positioned anywhere around the space, and is plugged into the dimmer racks using a DMX512 control cable. In some TV studio situations, the newer 16 Amp plugs and sockets may be used, but these are bulkier (and more fragile) than the 15A version. TRS stands for Tough Rubber Sheath, and describes the cable, so its not strictly the correct abbreviation for any type of cable with connectors on. As moving lights and LEDs began to take over the stage lighting world, these consoles have become much less common and useful. {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}, __CONFIG_colors_palette__{"active_palette":0,"config":{"colors":{"df70c":{"name":"Main Accent","parent":-1}},"gradients":[]},"palettes":[{"name":"Default","value":{"colors":{"df70c":{"val":"var(--tcb-skin-color-28)","hsl":{"h":53,"s":0.4194,"l":0.8176,"a":1}}},"gradients":[]},"original":{"colors":{"df70c":{"val":"rgb(55, 179, 233)","hsl":{"h":198,"s":0.8,"l":0.56,"a":1}}},"gradients":[]}}]}__CONFIG_colors_palette__. Any damage to the cable sheath should put the lantern out of service to get repaired. Learners (and staff) can then safely hang the lanterns on the bars, plug them in, colour them and even give them a rough focus, and check they work, before raising the bar up to working height. There are two types of cables in UK-based lighting systems; These cables are terminated with 15 Amp round-pin plugs and sockets, and have been the standard in UK theatres for many years. Because somehow, some way, we need to get the data signal from the console (usually DMX, sometimes through sACN or Art-Net) to the lights and we need to get them power, too. The older-style consoles really only dealt with intensity of light, which by principle can be raised or lowered during your show or service. They require a different method of connection so your lighting system will need some modification to make it easy to use them. Back in the old days wed simply connect the dimmers to the console via DMX, bring power into the dimmers, and then only connect dimmed power out to the lights. The login page will open in a new tab. Within each type of light, we also have categories of lights based on the type of light that they output: they may be spot fixtures, they may be wash fixtures or beam fixtures. Make sure the cable is free hanging and not wrapped around the lantern. Thats all. The permanent dimmers are an important part of the electrical installation, and should be maintained regularly. LearnStageLighting.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Life was simple! Instead, we connect our lights to constant, non-dimmed power (wall power) and also connect DMX to each light to control it. Undo the hook clamp bolt. These control signal cables carry a data signal from the control desk to the dimmers, but are also used to send control information to LED fittings around the rig and also to any moving lights or other effects units you may be using. There are huge differences in the designs of all these systems, right? Looking at these different lighting situations, there isnt really much in common, is there? There are a few solutions which make using permanent lighting rigs usable in schools. Sometimes its a blurry line between what is a PC and what is not, but the control software is the same these modern software packages are built from the ground up to control a mix of moving/LED lights and conventional lights. Additionally, Moving Lights can be used to replace some of the fixed lanterns in your rig both above the auditorium and above the stage. There are, ironically, more safety hazards and chances of things going wrong with a portable system, so please take care to read and understand the following section. 2022 Learn Stage Lighting .com. November 27, 2019 inTechnical and Artistic. A corporate speaker gets up before his sales team in a 5,000 seat room with lights overhead. A purpose-built mobile access platform such as the Esca range is the way to go. The most expensive option is to reinstall the lighting bars so that they are on motorised winches. It requires a constant undimmed power supply. Open the barn doors (Fresnel or PC) or pull the shutters out to open position (Profile). Please log in again. I hope this article has helped you to understand the very basics as to how a lighting system works, and what you need to make one! Lights can be fixed-position LED or conventional lights, or moving lights. What are the Basic Parts of a Stage Lighting System? If the bars contain numbered sockets for stage lanterns to be plugged into, theyre known as Internally-Wired Bars or IWBs. These utilize special links that give us a small commission if you buy, with no additional cost to you. While microphone cable can sometimes be used to carry DMX signals it isnt good practice as the signal is more likely to develop faults if its not carried over the correct data cable. Dimmers can vary from a simple 1 channel unit, which only dims 1 channel of light at a time, all the way up to 96 channel or greater dimmer racks for large shows and installations. The mostvisiblepart of the lighting system are the lights themselves. Entertainment Technology Resources & History, Theatrecrafts.com > Topics > Teaching Technical Theatre in Schools > Lighting > Stage Lighting System. Whether a small or large system, these basic pieces make every lighting rig function. Learn Stage Lighting is also in a participant in other affiliate programs. Hang the lantern on the bar in the correct position (assuming the bar has been lowered to floor level). Gobos can also be used in spot lights. There are many health & safety restrictions in place, which are currently preventing learners from making full use of the stage lighting rig. Older moving lights use discharge lamps, which remain on all of the time the unit is switched on. A permanent system usually consists of a number of scaffolding bars mounted to the ceiling or walls of the room to form the lighting rig. Which brings us to: Most modern lighting consoles and/or PC software are designed from the ground up to control moving lights and LED fixtures, often with a lesser focus on conventional lights. After logging in you can close it and return to this page. A small band plays in front of 2 lighting stands at a coffeehouse. A scaffold tower should not be kept at the school for this purpose there are too many chances to make errors when assembling it. Learn more and find out how to choose your lighting console by clicking here!
It may seem a surprise to you that the tiny coffee shop lighting system uses the same type of equipment as a large-scale event, but its true. The internally wired bars are then connected to a patch panel (consisting of a row of numbered plugs) which connect into the dimmer racks which are usually positioned above the patch panels. A massive lighting show takes up a whole arena, bathing an artist or speaker in vibrant light. Many schools seem to use scaffold towers for this operation, but these can only be assembled by a suitably trained member of staff (or, more likely, an external contractor). These can be really useful in class, and mean you dont need to get the lighting desk every time you want a couple of lights on. LEDs are revolutionising the stage lighting world. DMX Terminators should be used at the end of a run of DMX cable. Roughly point the lantern in the direction it will be focussed. Cable management systems (such as the Jacobs Ladder system shown in the video below) exist which mean the lanterns can remain plugged in and connected to the dimmers when the bar is at rigging height (around 3 feet above the stage floor). This is where the you turn on and off the lights and give instructions for movement. When lights with color, movement, and gobos began to become popular, the industry had to change. For the most part, a DMX cable simply works, no matter what the situation, where a wireless setup can be difficult to make work reliably in situations where there is a lot of wireless activity in the space. Though wireless DMX has gained some popularity, there isnt a safe way to do wireless power yet! As well as the permanent installed dimmers, you should try to have a couple of portable dimmer packs available. They are terminated with 5 pin XLR connectors usually, but can also be used with 3 pin XLR connectors (as the DMX standard only uses 3 pins). It may be possible to use a portable system in conjunction with the permanent rig. Components: Information coming soon. For the moment, seeTypes of Lanterns, VIDEO DEMONSTRATING THE ABOVE COMING SOON. See Moving Lights under Lanterns (below) for more information. The most common small dimmer pack is 4 channels, which can be hung with your lighting to give you flexibility in your setup. Not as much as you think! If the system is correctly designed, the number of cables that have to be run around the lighting rig should be very small. A modern stage lighting system consists of a few main parts- consoles, fixtures, distribution/dimming, and cabling. DIAGRAM SHOWING MOVING LIGHT CONNECTION COMING SOON. Today, there are 2 main types of consoles may will run into: Back in the wild west of lighting, this is what you would see every single day simple lighting boards with rows and rows of faders each controlling a light or group of lights. In the professional world, moving lights initially had a completely separate console and programmer, but for beginners or intermediate-level users that just didnt happen. For this reason, the best plan is to use portable temporary lighting equipment. As with fixed LED lanterns, moving lights need a constant undimmed power supply, and a connection to the DMX512 signal from the lighting desk. But when were using LEDs or moving lights, we do NOT connect them into dimmers even if the dimmers are kept at full! They often feature large touchscreens, wheels to set attributes of the lights, buttons to type commands and faders for playback. As you may have guessed, cables are what ties that bind all of this lighting together. Understanding the basics can give you a great grasp on how to use any piece of lighting equipment. This avoids the need for access platformsand working at height, and can still produce excellent results. A difference in color or moving light position isnt necessarily higher or lower than where it was before, and it is very difficult to control these new lights on an older-style console. The lighting console takes the ideas from the hands of the lighting director and ultimately translates them into the DMX protocol to instruct the lights. All of the hook clamps should be around the same way. Make sure it has a safety bond attached and that any accessories are present (e.g. The dimmer racks are connected to industrial-type power sockets which give them enough power to run all of the necessary lanterns, and to a control connection from the lighting desk. Next we move on to the distribution and dimmers. To focus the lanterns, youll still need to get up to rig height, but this is considerably safer than having to rig them at height. However, an LED lantern must not be connected to a dimmer. A church hosts a service with 20 lights shining on the stage. More current moving lights use LED light sources which are far more energy-efficient, and also offer a wide range of colour possibilities. The rig can provide a basic general wash (possibly using two colours a warm and a cold gel) and the portable system can provide any special effects or colours. Many permanent systems will also use relays to switch on and off the power to LEDs and moving lights in order to make them live a longer life. This seems to be a major issue in many schools. I may often work in both a church and large event situation in the same week, goingin betweenlarge hotel ballrooms and small sanctuaries, using many of the same skills to bring excellence in lighting. Most modern lighting desks can operate in three ways; Check lantern for any visible damage, especially around the cable. It also needs a DMX512 connection, from the lighting desk. Wash Lights A soft-edged pool of light is produced, similar to that from a Fresnel. UNDER CONSTRUCTION Lanterns are plugged into their nearest socket. barn doors for a Fresnel or PC, shutters for a profile). Spot Lights A hard-edged spot of light, similar to that from a Profile. A portable system consists of a number of lanterns which can be rigged (set up) on telescopic stands at floor level. Prepare the lantern. DIAGRAM SHOWING LED CONNECTION, INCLUDING WAYS OF CONNECTING DMX512 COMING SOON. Enter the modern lighting console or software. In addition, cable is the best, most reliable way to move data and power to your lights. Each type of fixture has its own use and strengths/weaknesses. The first part of a stage lighting system is the console. These consoles are pretty simple, and some offer the ability to make a cue list to pre-program a show, or a chase function to offer some beat-based music playback. Although they are far more complex than standard lanterns, moving lights can save vast amounts of time, and can also solve the problems of access to fixed lighting bars mentioned above. All Rights Reserved. These consoles can work great for conventional lights and a few LEDs, but really get difficult to work with as the amount of channels each light has increases. Just because a fixture is good for one use or type of event doesnt mean that itll work for another use! (There are 1 or 2 exceptions out there, where a moving light also takes a dimmed power , but that is rare). Written by Jon Primrose please send comments / requests for additions to me via the Contact Us button above. A traditional lantern is plugged into a dimmer. relays to switch on and off the power to LEDs. While the type of events may be very different, the lighting systems actually have a lot in common. Any lighting system consists of the following parts: More information on each part of the system can be found below. These can be controlled by a modern computerised lighting desk, and (after an initial learning curve) are straightforward to use. The lighting desk can be positioned anywhere around the space, and is plugged into the dimmer racks using a DMX512 control cable. In some TV studio situations, the newer 16 Amp plugs and sockets may be used, but these are bulkier (and more fragile) than the 15A version. TRS stands for Tough Rubber Sheath, and describes the cable, so its not strictly the correct abbreviation for any type of cable with connectors on. As moving lights and LEDs began to take over the stage lighting world, these consoles have become much less common and useful. {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}, __CONFIG_colors_palette__{"active_palette":0,"config":{"colors":{"df70c":{"name":"Main Accent","parent":-1}},"gradients":[]},"palettes":[{"name":"Default","value":{"colors":{"df70c":{"val":"var(--tcb-skin-color-28)","hsl":{"h":53,"s":0.4194,"l":0.8176,"a":1}}},"gradients":[]},"original":{"colors":{"df70c":{"val":"rgb(55, 179, 233)","hsl":{"h":198,"s":0.8,"l":0.56,"a":1}}},"gradients":[]}}]}__CONFIG_colors_palette__. Any damage to the cable sheath should put the lantern out of service to get repaired. Learners (and staff) can then safely hang the lanterns on the bars, plug them in, colour them and even give them a rough focus, and check they work, before raising the bar up to working height. There are two types of cables in UK-based lighting systems; These cables are terminated with 15 Amp round-pin plugs and sockets, and have been the standard in UK theatres for many years. Because somehow, some way, we need to get the data signal from the console (usually DMX, sometimes through sACN or Art-Net) to the lights and we need to get them power, too. The older-style consoles really only dealt with intensity of light, which by principle can be raised or lowered during your show or service. They require a different method of connection so your lighting system will need some modification to make it easy to use them. Back in the old days wed simply connect the dimmers to the console via DMX, bring power into the dimmers, and then only connect dimmed power out to the lights. The login page will open in a new tab. Within each type of light, we also have categories of lights based on the type of light that they output: they may be spot fixtures, they may be wash fixtures or beam fixtures. Make sure the cable is free hanging and not wrapped around the lantern. Thats all. The permanent dimmers are an important part of the electrical installation, and should be maintained regularly. LearnStageLighting.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Life was simple! Instead, we connect our lights to constant, non-dimmed power (wall power) and also connect DMX to each light to control it. Undo the hook clamp bolt. These control signal cables carry a data signal from the control desk to the dimmers, but are also used to send control information to LED fittings around the rig and also to any moving lights or other effects units you may be using. There are huge differences in the designs of all these systems, right? Looking at these different lighting situations, there isnt really much in common, is there? There are a few solutions which make using permanent lighting rigs usable in schools. Sometimes its a blurry line between what is a PC and what is not, but the control software is the same these modern software packages are built from the ground up to control a mix of moving/LED lights and conventional lights. Additionally, Moving Lights can be used to replace some of the fixed lanterns in your rig both above the auditorium and above the stage. There are, ironically, more safety hazards and chances of things going wrong with a portable system, so please take care to read and understand the following section. 2022 Learn Stage Lighting .com. November 27, 2019 inTechnical and Artistic. A corporate speaker gets up before his sales team in a 5,000 seat room with lights overhead. A purpose-built mobile access platform such as the Esca range is the way to go. The most expensive option is to reinstall the lighting bars so that they are on motorised winches. It requires a constant undimmed power supply. Open the barn doors (Fresnel or PC) or pull the shutters out to open position (Profile). Please log in again. I hope this article has helped you to understand the very basics as to how a lighting system works, and what you need to make one! Lights can be fixed-position LED or conventional lights, or moving lights. What are the Basic Parts of a Stage Lighting System? If the bars contain numbered sockets for stage lanterns to be plugged into, theyre known as Internally-Wired Bars or IWBs. These utilize special links that give us a small commission if you buy, with no additional cost to you. While microphone cable can sometimes be used to carry DMX signals it isnt good practice as the signal is more likely to develop faults if its not carried over the correct data cable. Dimmers can vary from a simple 1 channel unit, which only dims 1 channel of light at a time, all the way up to 96 channel or greater dimmer racks for large shows and installations. The mostvisiblepart of the lighting system are the lights themselves. Entertainment Technology Resources & History, Theatrecrafts.com > Topics > Teaching Technical Theatre in Schools > Lighting > Stage Lighting System. Whether a small or large system, these basic pieces make every lighting rig function. Learn Stage Lighting is also in a participant in other affiliate programs. Hang the lantern on the bar in the correct position (assuming the bar has been lowered to floor level). Gobos can also be used in spot lights. There are many health & safety restrictions in place, which are currently preventing learners from making full use of the stage lighting rig. Older moving lights use discharge lamps, which remain on all of the time the unit is switched on. A permanent system usually consists of a number of scaffolding bars mounted to the ceiling or walls of the room to form the lighting rig. Which brings us to: Most modern lighting consoles and/or PC software are designed from the ground up to control moving lights and LED fixtures, often with a lesser focus on conventional lights. After logging in you can close it and return to this page. A small band plays in front of 2 lighting stands at a coffeehouse. A scaffold tower should not be kept at the school for this purpose there are too many chances to make errors when assembling it. Learn more and find out how to choose your lighting console by clicking here!