Automated lighting programmers have a multitude of functions available to them to modify lighting looks. From gobos to color, to movements, the options are nearly limitless. One of the underused concepts is shaking of various elements. This can add drama, frenetic energy, or even psychedelic displacement to an already existing lighting look or effect. There are several different types of shakes that programmers can encounter, and each provides a unique effect. Some are built into the fixtures while others must be created from the console. It is important for automated lighting programmers to understand the abilities and shake things up a bit when appropriate.
Gobo Shakes
The most commonly used shake function tends to be a gobo shake. Generally this is a function built into a light and is accessible via a DMX setting. The resulting effect is an oscillation of the gobo wheel so that the selected gobo rocks back and forth within the aperture. Adjusting the speed of the shake often will alter the distance of the oscillation too. The resulting output is a great image used as either a projection or aerial effect.
Some fixture manufacturers also include a different type of gobo shake exclusive to rotating gobos. Instead of oscillating the entire gobo wheel back and forth, this option will rock the gobo forward and backward using its rotation gearing. The look is quite different than a standard shake of the gobo wheel. The added curve of the partial rotation provides a twisting effect. Some manufacturers even allow you to combine a wheel shake with a gobo oscillation, which I find to be quite exciting.
Shaking the Colors
Since the earliest moving lights were introduced to the market, the ability to quickly flash between slots on a fixed color wheel has been a highly desirable look. Again, through a setting on a DMX channel, the speed of a color shake can be selected. Once set, the color wheel will oscillate between two neighboring colors, so a quick flash between orange and green or red and blue because instantly possible.
The color shake can be made even more interesting if initiated when the color wheel is set to a split color instead of a solid color. For instance, start with the color wheel at a value that produces a split image of slots 4 and 5. Then apply a color shake and the color wheel will scan between a split of 3 and 4 to a split of 5 and 6. This results in a unique look involving four different colors. Of course, every fixture manufacturer may build the internal effect differently, so your outcome may look different.
Do It Yourself
While gobo and color shakes are commonly found built into lighting fixtures, most other parameters do not include shake functions by default. With a few simple adjustments from a console’s effects system, you can easily build your own shake effects. I often will apply a pan shake to a moving light to give it additional energy during a fly out. I will assign a step wave to pan and then adjust the size and speed until the fixture has a nice “twitch” going.
Similar effects can be made and applied to other parameters too. Imagine shaking a framing shutter blade to alter the shape of a fixture’s output, or oscillating an animation wheel pattern. Anytime you can rock a feature within the aperture, you will find a unique effect that is rarely seen. I also like to shake color mix flags, which can cause various multi-colored looks.
It can also be interesting to emulate a color wheel shake with LED sources. Because many RGBW LED fixtures have pixel or zone control, you can build a color effect that scans between two colors through the zones or pixels instead of the entire output at once. By applying the same concepts and effects values described above, you can easily replicate a standard color shake look with the newer technology. Some manufacturers even provide pre-made internal effects that make this emulation quick and simple.
The Right Path
Another way to introduce a shaking effect on a parameter of an automated light is to assign a custom “shake” path to a crossfade. Many consoles allow you to select a different path or profile for a crossfade to follow. A shake path will cause a parameter’s DMX values to oscillate while following the usual crossfade. For instance, imagine you are diming a fixture from zero intensity to full intensity over five seconds. With a standard (linear) path, the DMX values will simply increase sequentially. However with the shake path it may look something like this: 0,1,0,1,2,3,2,3,4,3… The look on stage will be a flickering fade up of the fixture across five seconds.
In the appropriate circumstance, a shake path can add that extra wow to a standard fade. I find it very useful for pan and tilt movements as well as unique lens focus effects, or even color crossfades. Similar to effects engines, a shake path can be applied to nearly any parameter,
You Break It, You Buy It
As great as custom built shake effects and crossfade paths can look, you should also exercise some caution when applying these tools to various parameters. If you put too fast a shake on a pan movement, it may cause damage to the fixture. Although the fixture manufacturers build most fixtures very robustly, it is possible to overwork certain parameters. When you command a fixture parameter to change directions repeatedly, it could have unexpected consequences. So use caution and choose your shake effects wisely.
Shakes the Clown
Shake effects are not useful for all productions, but can be a great creative tool in many situations. The terminology used to select and adjust internal fixture shake effects may differ from manufacturer to manufacturer, or even with your console’s fixture library. As always, be sure to read the DMX protocol in the user manual and confirm the data in your fixture library. If the shake effect you desire does not exist within the fixture, consider building your own using console effects or crossfade paths. Shake up some new looks during your next programming session by making use of the various possibilities.
