Why Would I Want to Park?
Just as you would park your car to leave it in a location for a while, you might park the parameters of a light to leave them at a specific value. The park function of a lighting console is used to lock the parameter(s) for an undetermined amount of time. Once parked, the parameter(s) cannot be altered by any programming, playback, faders, or other console functions. You must unpark the values before they will be allowed to change again.
Many lighting console manuals suggest that park is often used to lock on “backstage” or “orchestra pit” lighting. I find this to be a very limiting description, as I have used park throughout my career for many important uses. One of the most common is to park a dimmer channel at a specific level, thus knowing that it cannot be altered. Yes, I do use this very often for backstage lighting, and find it extremely useful as such. However, I also have parked “on” other utility items, such as fans, smoke machines, orchestra stand lights, and other devices. (Do be careful, as not everything should be plugged into a dimmer, or should be connected to non-dimmer circuits).
I have also found park to be extremely useful to create a special when someone else is working on stage. For instance, if I am building cues for a show, I need the stage dark. This can cause a conflict with the sound department if they need to work on something stage right. So I will take one fixture and park it in open white at 50 percent in the area they are working. Now I can leave the work lights off over the stage and continue working with my programming. This one fixture illuminates their work area for them and allows me to keep on with what I need to complete. Yet another use of park is to correct a fault within a fixture. If an iris is known to fail or a certain focus must be held, I will often park the doomed parameter until the technicians have a chance to make the repair.
How Exactly Do I Park?
The first step in learning to park is the same as any other feature on your console: Read the manual. Because the syntax is different between consoles, be sure to read the user manual on your console of choice to determine just how to park parameters. Many consoles have a dedicated “park” button or soft-key, while others use different terminology such as “pause” or “lock.” No matter the button, typically you will alter some parameters and then apply the park command. This will lock the parameters at their currently assigned value. Now no matter what adjustments you make, the parked value will remain. For example, if you park fixture 101 at 100 percent intensity, then you cannot alter this value. If you select the fixture and set it to 0 percent, it will remain at 100 percent on stage. Even if you bring down the grand master, this fixture’s intensity will remain at 100 percent. You must follow the procedures for your console to unpark the value(s) before you can alter them again.
Luckily, most consoles also provide a specific park window that will quickly show you which parameters are parked and at what level. When you open this window, you can easily see what is parked where. (I wish I had this when I park my car in a crowded lot!) Parked values can also typically be altered within this window. You may also find that your console will display parked values in a specific color or box within the output or stage views.
In addition to parking from your programming windows, some consoles allow you to directly park any DMX channel at any value. Often, you will open up a special DMX view window and then, by editing this window, you can park unique DMX channels. It will be important for you to know what that DMX channel is controlling though, as this window is a direct DMX viewer and not associated with your fixture libraries. However, this can be useful when troubleshooting a bad library or working with a dimmer rack.
But I Still Need to Program…
One of the great things about the park function is that while it is holding onto specific values for parameters, you can still make changes to those parameters too. This may sound contradictory to the previous section, however it is true. When a parameter is parked, the value is held live on the stage. Your programming window(s) still allow you to alter the parameter and record the values, although the changes will not be visibly seen on stage. For instance, in the above example, with fixture 101 parked at 100 percent, you can still dial the value on the console to 50 percent and record this into cue 5. As you do this, the programming window and labels will indicate you are programming at 50 percent, but the output on stage will remain at 100 percent. Essentially, you are programming this parameter in a “blind” state. When you unpark fixture 101 and play cue 5, then the fixture will playback at the 50 percent value recorded into the cue.
How Long Can I Park for Free?
Luckily we get free parking all the time on our consoles, but there are some limitations. First and foremost, you must remember to unpark items that no longer need to remain parked. If you focus a special for the sound guys to work and then forget to unpark it hours later, then this area will look odd on stage. Additionally, you should check to see if your console clears the parked information when power-cycled. Most consoles will retain parked values, but not all do.
Parking Like a Pro
Advanced parking and unparking is possible through the use of console macros. Often, you may decide to create a macro to select some fixtures, assign a value, and park the settings. This macro can then be run at the same time as a specific cue. Later on in the show, you can have another macro unpark these values. This can be useful for certain effects or devices that need to come on and not be accidentally adjusted by the console operator.
When programming in a networked environment with multiple programmers or using remote focus devices, parking must be regulated. Some consoles will indicate where a park command originated or automatically unpark values when a console or device logs off. Check your user manual to determine how your console handles these situations.
No Parking Tickets Here
The park command on automated lighting consoles serves an extremely useful function. By locking parameters to specific values, a programmer has the power to create very high priority settings. It is important to understand the process of parking as well as the possible problems that could develop. With a little practice, you should be parking like a pro in no time.
