The Introduction Phase
Much like arranged marriages in various cultures, often your LD and/or the lighting vendor will make the initial selection of fixtures that you will be working with. When they provide you with your new companion’s name, you need to determine if you are already familiar with this type of fixture. If not, then you will need to do more research to learn as much as possible before your first programming date.
When you read over the list of new companions and find new mates, you should begin by “Googling” them to learn more. For instance, if you are told that you will be interacting with 20 of the newest “Pointies” from the manufacturer “Mervin,” then you should go to their website and read the data sheet. Much like a profile on a dating site, the fixture’s data sheet should give you all the specifics of the fixture’s operations. Here you can determine the total number of gobos, method of color (mixing or fixed), zoom range, other effects, as well as DMX channels and modes. Be sure to read over this carefully so that you can fully understand the capabilities and characteristics of this new companion. You may even want to watch a video of the product in action or read about it from previous suitors on other websites. The more information you can gain about a fixture before your first date, the better the programming session.
You will also want to ensure that you can communicate with your new friends via your lighting console. As you prepare for your programming date, you need to check early that your lighting console has a library for all the fixture types that you will be interacting with. If a library is not available, then you will need to contact your lighting console manufacturer and have them create a library to help you with your communication to your fixtures. Otherwise, your fixtures will be no fun during your programming sessions, as they will ignore all your desires.
Gaining Total Control
Automated lighting programmers like being in total control and the fixtures are always the submissive partners in the relationship. However, before a programmer can gain total control over a fixture, they must have full permission and knowledge of what the fixture desires. This requires in-depth knowledge of the fixture’s DMX protocol modes. Many fixtures have several different modes in which each provides a different set of control features for a fixture. You need to understand the best mode for your production and select this for use. Then you need to instruct your crew to configure each fixture accordingly to ensure they are ready for the mode you wish.
Once the fixtures are in your selected mode, then you must ready your tools in order to take control of the submissive creatures. Hopefully you have already confirmed that your console has a library and is ready to speak to your new companions. This library needs to also match the DMX mode that you have selected; otherwise the fixtures will ignore your commands.
The next element that you need to arrange is your patch. Your console must be configured to the same DMX address as the fixtures in order for correct communication to occur. Incorrect patching could lead to directing multiple fixtures to the same command or other fixtures simply ignoring your wishes. No matter the relationship type, no one likes to be ignored by their mates.
The First Date
Once you are all gussied up and ready by studying the fixture attributes, selecting a mode, getting a library and a building a patch, then you are ready for your first programming date. This can occur in the real world or be a virtual date through the use of a visualizer. Before you get down to business with your new mates, you will want to warm them up a bit and check their true capabilities. Some people prefer to think of the process in terms of a baseball analogy. “Getting to first base” occurs when you first select the fixtures, give them some intensity and make them wiggle. This, in essence, confirms that the fixtures are configured correctly and ready to receive your commands and wishes.
Moving on in the relationship will allow you to get to “second base” with your fixtures. To achieve this milestone, you will want to gently test all the various features and functions that you read about in the fixture’s data sheet. As you test the functions, you will not only see what the fixture is capable of, but also confirm that your console’s fixture library provides access to all that she can handle.
“Third base” is an exciting time in the relationship between a programmer and the fixtures in his/her rig, as this is the final step before consummating the relationship with a show. Once you are totally comfortable with the abilities of your fixtures, then you can begin to enhance your relationship with the creation of palettes/presets and groups. The time and care you take with “third base” will always enhance the overall programming experience. While it can be tempting to create these elements prior to seeing the fixtures for real, it is usually better to follow the plan than to jump directly to third base. If you do skip to this step, however, then you will likely find unexpected bumps during your time together.
A Home Run
Once all the characteristics have come together in your fixture relationship, then you will be ready to “go all the way” and create a show together. As you continue to work with your new partners, you should always have great respect for what they can provide you and what commands you give to them. Sometimes you may ask them to operate at incredible speeds or give them multiple tasks in unison. Remember that they are delicate machines and will often get off course and require a slight modification before they will fully cooperate with your commands. Usually you can simply send a “recalibrate” or “home” command to remind your fixtures to comply with your wishes. It will be important that you know how to communicate these commands to your fixture throughout the course of your relationship.
Ending the Relationship
Hopefully this guide will help you create long-lasting fixture relationships that last through the run of your show. However, there are times when a fixture must be excused from duty, and the relationship will end. As a lighting programmer, you need to be ready to handle this situation and keep your show file intact. In some cases, it may be a simple breakup, and only a deletion of data is required. In other cases, you will need to replace the outgoing fixtures with those of a new type. Most consoles contain functions to assist with this relationship change, thus easing the pain of separation.
A Happy Life
Most fixture-programmer relationships are long lasting and allow for total freedom of creativity and control. Meet-hot-fixtures.com supports relationships of all types, including spot, wash, beam, effect, LED, tungsten, Halogen, digital, media servers, and even conventionals. Take some time before your next programming gig to think about your relationship with your fixtures and follow this guide to ensure a happy lifetime of programming.
