How many Dimmer Channels ?
Sun, 22 June 2008, 07:35 pmDon Allen28 posts in thread
How many Dimmer Channels ?
Sun, 22 June 2008, 07:35 pmWith the offer of state funding in WA for amateur theatres, the decisions on what to apply for need researching and some professional advice is required to explain the theatre lighting requirements of amateur theatre groups.
One ideal "Square One" lighting design, (so called because if you put everything back to "square one" you will be able to provide good lighting for any basic production ) is to:
Divide the stage into the nine basic acting areas ie DSL, DSC, DSR, MSL, MSC, MSR, USL, USC, USR.
Allocate two key lights to each area (the McAndless method see lighting links, this takes you to 18 lights from the front. at 45 degrees to the centre of each acting area.
Allocate a back light to each acting area, directly behind the centre of each acting area, this takes another six channels
You now have an ideal lighting design that uses 24 dimmer channels for individual control of each light. In a usual amateur theatre situation, you will have to parallel lights if you have less dimmer channels.
You now need to allow three dimmer channels if you have a cyclorama and additional channels for specials, so the ideal number of channels takes you up to 36, which is three dimmer racks, of 12 channels each, with a channels capacity of 2400 watts.
Any questions ?
I have only used discharge
Mon, 23 June 2008, 09:29 pmI have only used discharge lamps on a few occasions, to great effect.
The first time I saw them used, was back in the 50's at the Golders Green Hippodrome. they simulated the same Samoiloff effect, used in the Ascot Scene of My Fair Lady. Which is the use of saturated concentrated colour, to change the black, of the black & white costumes green.
we also used them to supplement the lighting, for the World Scout Jamboree, arena performances, in Perth a while ago. However in those days I had the knack of counting heart beats & turning them on, prior to the Cue GO!. Allowing for the strike ark up time.
There again you could do a mechanical Dowser effect, either using a metallic mask lowered in front of the beam/ Much the same as they did in old Garrick's time, of turning & moving the lamps physically off stage. Which still gives a great fade effect!
I remember a while ago, some one was developing an electronic dimmerable discharge unit. On similar principle to the fluro starter, But it may have been pie in the sky or they gave up?
By the way did they ever work out at Melkville why the dimmer racks, every know & then, kept switching to safe mode?
It's great to know both you & Ian are just around the corner. You will have to drop in to our newly refurbished venue, at Phoenix theatre.
That is after we have turned it into a workable theatre again. With the help of David Ashton of All Things theatre.
I won't press on the Technical Advisory Pool, but if I can help in anyway, I'm only a local call!
Na the head between the legs is an old trick. It effects the 3 colour cones in the eye & perception transmitted via the rods to the old computer in the brain. They effect is quick & resets back to normal mode again.
actually I liken the head, as being a PAL colour TV monitor & the cones in the eyes, as the same 3 basic colour guns inside.
TOI TOI TOI CHOOKAS
[May you always play to a full house] Hear the lights & see the sounds.