Many of you might be wondering why anyone would want to control fixtures without a lighting controller. Most of the time, these “stand-alone” configurations work best in simple single fixture locations with requirements of repeatability. Usually, the fixture will automatically begin its playback when the unit receives power. Although it would make sense in installations, I have also seen pre-set playback used in temporary cases as well.
Imagine a retail store with a few fixtures designed to move around and add excitement or project custom gobos. In this case, a controller is not really needed and just becomes another item sitting on a shelf confusing the sales staff. I remember at my local Whole Foods Market, they used to have a fixture hanging just over the weekly produce special. It would project a gobo on and around the display to grab customer’s attention. Stand-alone operation was perfect for this application.
Some small night clubs or bars will often have their fixtures set for pre-set playback and just repeat the same cues all night long. Or they might enable audio control of specific programmed cues (more on this later). I have used pre-set playback for temporary situations such as a ballyhoo in an entrance way or scary looks in my yard for Halloween. In each of these cases, it made more sense to let each fixture stand alone than to run data cables and set up a console.
There is a virtual plethora of occasions where stand-alone programming is beneficial. Imagine a ballroom show with LED color mixing fixtures placed around the walls. If you could just plug each fixture into a power outlet and have them play back a coordinated “show” of the colors you need, then you wouldn’t need data cables and a controller. Parade floats, theatrical set pieces, and even costumes all can benefit from on-board programming enabled fixtures.
But How Does It Work?
The actual details of programming pre-sets directly on a fixture vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but they all follow the same basic principles. As I always say, check with your product’s user manual for exact instructions. Generally, you will use the on-screen display and menu keys built into the front of the fixture. Look for a menu section titled “Pre-sets” or “Playback.” Here you will find the ability to create scenes or looks. Once you select a scene to edit, you are presented with the various parameters of the fixture and a method to edit each.
Typically, you use the menu to edit each scene, and then create several scenes to make a program or sequence. If you want to enable a loop between specific scenes, there is usually a method to mark a scene or step as an “end” that tells the fixture to loop back to the first scene.
As you edit each scene or step, you will find additional controls besides just the fixture’s parameters. Timing controls for the crossfade, as well as the duration of the scene, are usually available for editing. The crossfade value will determine the speed that colors change or the fixture moves. The duration (or delay) assigns the amount of time the fixture will play the selected step before moving on to the next step. If the duration is shorter than the crossfade, then the cue will not be seen to complete before the next scene is played.
What About Tracking?
Remember that pre-set programming on a fixture does not have the power of a full lighting controller. Each scene is a unique set of values for the parameters, and there is no tracking ability. This means that if, in scene 1, you point your fixture center stage with a blue color and, in scene 2 ,you wish to change it to a yellow color, you must point it in the exact same location in both cues. This can be very difficult to achieve without tracking or palettes. The easiest solution is to copy the data from cue 1 to cue 2 and then simply change the color. Most fixtures allow you to copy scene data, and it is highly suggested that you take advantage of this tool.
How Do I Make it Go?
Once you have created your scenes or steps and assigned the appropriate timing and looping options, you are ready to enable the playback. In the menu system, you might find several options for playback of your scenes. The most common is to begin playing a program and the fixture will move from scene to scene as you have assigned. If you wish to create a more coordinated show between multiple fixtures, then you can enable a master/slave control where you assign one fixture as the master and the others as slaves. You will also need to run data cables between the fixtures. Whenever the master plays a specific scene number, it will send this information to the other fixtures telling them to play the same scene. Remember, it only sends the trigger information, so you will need to program the appropriate information into each fixture’s scenes.
Some fixtures also have built in microphones and can be assigned to operate their scenes and programs according to the beats they “hear.” In this playback method, the fixture will automatically advance to the next scene only when it detects a beat of music. You can usually also assign a master/slave configuration with the audio control coming only from one fixture. This is often desirable, because each fixture might hear the beats at different times, depending upon their location in a venue.
Once you have enabled a playback method, the fixture will remain in this mode until you change it to another mode or set it back to respond to DMX. Now the fixture can be powered off and back on, and it will just begin running on its own.
Making Things Easier
Pre-set programming can be very time-consuming by having to press the buttons on the front panel of a group of fixtures just to make a ballroom change from red to green all night long. However, there is usually an easier way. Most fixtures allow you to capture data from DMX into a scene. This is extremely useful, as you can quickly create a series of looks and then simply press a capture button on the fixture. Now you have the advantages of tracking, palettes, etc. In the example with a ballroom show of LED wall washers, I would run data cables to each of them in the shop before the gig and capture the red/green chase into all of them at once. Then, at the gig, all I would have to do is plug them into the wall and focus them with no further programming required.
Keep it Simple
Pre-set programming is a very simple task that can be useful at times. It is important to remember that it is just another tool in the automated lighting programmer’s toolkit and should be used accordingly. In some cases, it might be better to run data cables and set up a console. Stand-alone fixture programming is a fun way to learn the parameters of fixtures and a great resource for permanent and temporary fixture usage. Besides, it is great fun to program without ever touching a console!
