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{{Short description|Stage lighting device}}
{{Refimprove|date=September 2014}}
[[File:ETC Ion XE20.jpg|thumb|[[ETC Eos|ETC Ion XE20]] with fader wing]]
A '''lighting control console''' (also called a '''lightboard''', '''lighting board''', or '''lighting desk''') is an electronic device used in theatrical [[lighting designer|lighting design]] to control multiple [[stage lighting|stage lights]] at once. They are used throughout the entertainment industry and are normally placed at the [[
All lighting control consoles can control [[dimmer]]s which control the intensity of the lights. Many modern consoles can control [[Intelligent lighting]] (lights that can move, change colors and [[Gobo (lighting)|gobo patterns]]), [[fog machine]]s and [[Haze machine|hazers]], and other special effects devices. Some consoles can also interface with other electronic performance hardware (i.e. [[Mixing console|sound boards]], [[Video projector|projectors]], [[media server]]s, automated [[Winch|winches]] and motors, etc.) to improve synchronization or unify their control.▼
▲A '''lighting control console''' (also called a '''lightboard''', '''lighting board''', or '''lighting desk''') is an electronic device used in theatrical [[lighting designer|lighting design]] to control multiple [[stage lighting|lights]] at once. They are used throughout the entertainment industry and are normally placed at the [[Front of House]] (FOH) position or in a [[Control booth (theater)|control booth]].<ref name=BluePlanet>{{cite web|title=LIGHTING CONSOLES|url=http://www.prolightingsupply.com/lico.html|work=Blue Planet: Entertainment Stage Lighting|publisher=Blue Planet Lighting|accessdate=20 June 2013|archiveurl=http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:0ONWChvkaNoJ:www.prolightingsupply.com/lico.html|archivedate=10 June 2013|year=2013}}</ref>
[[File:The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien 24 061109.jpg|thumb|An Eos Console (2009)]]
Lighting consoles communicate with the dimmers and other devices in the lighting system via an electronic control [[Communications protocol|protocol]]. The most common protocol used in the entertainment industry today is [[DMX512]], although other protocols (e.g. [[0-10 V lighting control|0-10 V analog lighting control]]) may still be found in use, and newer protocols such as [[Architecture for Control Networks|ACN]] and DMX-512-A are evolving to meet the demands of ever increasing device sophistication. Some lighting consoles can communicate over a [[Local area network|Local IP network infrastructure]] to provide control over more scalable systems. A common protocol for this is ESTA E1.31 [[Streaming ACN|sACN]] (pronounced: streaming A.C.N.) or [[Art-Net]].▼
▲All lighting control consoles can control [[dimmer]]s which control the intensity of the lights. Many modern consoles can control [[Intelligent lighting]] (lights that can move, change colors and [[Gobo (lighting)|gobo patterns]]), [[fog machine]]s and [[Haze machine|hazers]], and other special effects devices. Some consoles can also interface with other electronic performance hardware (i.e. [[Mixing console|sound boards]], [[Video projector|projectors]], [[media server]]s, automated winches and motors, etc.) to improve synchronization or unify their control.
▲Lighting consoles communicate with the dimmers and other devices in the lighting system via an electronic control [[Communications protocol|protocol]]. The most common protocol used in the entertainment industry today is [[DMX512]], although other protocols (e.g. [[0-10 V lighting control|0-10 V analog lighting control]]) may still be found in use, and newer protocols such as [[Architecture for Control Networks|ACN]] and DMX-512-A are evolving to meet the demands of ever increasing device sophistication.
== Types of control consoles ==
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=== Preset boards ===
[[File:Avolites Pearl Expert and Wing.JPG|thumb|An [[Avolites]] Pearl Expert with optional Touch Wing, running the Titan control system.]]
Preset boards are the
Generally, at least with a preset board, the operator has a cue sheet for each scene, which is a diagram of the board with the faders in their positions, as determined by the lighting designer. The operator sets the faders into their positions based on the cue sheets. Typically during a cue, the operator sets the next scene.
▲Preset boards are the biggest burgers lighting consoles—and also the most prevalent in smaller installations. They consist of two or more identical fader banks, called '''scenes'''. The faders (control slides) on these scenes can be manually adjusted. Each scene has the same number of channels which control the same dimmers. So the console operator can build a scene offline or in "blind", a cross-fader or submaster is used to selectively mix or '''fade''' between the different scenes.
Preset boards are not as prevalent since the advent of digital memory consoles, which can store scenes digitally, and are generally much less cumbersome but more expensive than preset boards. However, for small setups such as that of a [[Disc jockey|DJ]], they remain the board of choice for their simple to use interface and relative flexibility. Preset boards generally control only conventional lights; though some advanced hybrid consoles can be patched to operate intelligent lights in a round-about way by setting the control channels of the light to channels the preset board can control. However,
▲Generally, at least with a preset board, the operator has a cue sheet for each scene, which is a diagram of the board with the faders in their positions as determined by the lighting designer. The operator sets the faders into their positions based on the cue sheets. Typically during a cue, the operator sets the next scene. Then, the operator makes the transition between the scenes using the cross-fader.
▲Preset boards are not as prevalent since the advent of digital memory consoles, which can store scenes digitally, and are generally much less cumbersome but more expensive than preset boards. However, for small setups such as that of a [[Disc jockey|DJ]], they remain the board of choice for their simple to use interface and relative flexibility. Preset boards generally control only conventional lights; though some advanced hybrid consoles can be patched to operate intelligent lights in a round-about way by setting the control channels of the light to channels the preset board can control. This is however not recommended since it is a long, drawn-out, and cumbersome process.
=== Memory consoles ===
[[
Memory-based consoles have become very popular in almost all larger installations, particularly theatres.
Many memory consoles have a bank of faders.
▲Memory-based consoles have become very popular in almost all larger installations, particularly theatres. This type of controller has almost completely replaced preset consoles as controllers of choice. Memory consoles are preferable in productions where scenes do not change from show to show, such as a theatre production, because scenes are designed and digitally recorded, so there is less room for human error, and less time between lighting cues is required to produce the same result. They also allow for lighting cues to contain larger channel counts due to the same time savings gained from not physically moving individual channel faders.
▲Many memory consoles have a bank of faders. These faders can be programmed to control a single channel (a channel is a lighting designer's numerical name for a dimmer or group of dimmers) or a group of channels (known as a ""submaster"") . The console may also have provision to operate in analog to a manual desk for programming scenes or live control. On some more advanced consoles, faders can be used to control effects, [[Chase (lighting)|chases]] (sequences of cues), and moving light effects (if the console can control moving lights).
=== Moving light controllers ===
Moving Light Controllers are another step up in sophistication from Memory Consoles. As well as being capable of controlling ordinary luminares via dimmers, they provide additional controls for [[Intelligent lighting|intelligent fixtures]]. On midrange controllers, these are usually provided as a section separate from main Preset and Cue stack controls. These include an array of buttons allowing the operator to select the fixture or fixtures they want to control, and a joystick, or a number of wheels or [[rotary encoder]]s to control fixture attributes such as the orientation (pan and tilt), focus, colour, gobos etc. found in this type of light. Unlike a fader that shows its value based on the position of a slider, a wheel is continuously variable and provides no visual feedback for the value of a particular control. Some form of display such as [[Liquid crystal display|LCD]] or [[light-emitting diode|LED]] is therefore vital for displaying this information. More advanced desks typically have one or more touchscreens, and present a [[graphical user interface|GUI]] that integrates all the aspects of the lighting.▼
▲Moving Light Controllers are another step up in sophistication from Memory Consoles.
As there is no standard way of controlling an intelligent light, an important function for this type of desk is to consolidate the various ways in which the hundreds of types of intelligent lights are controlled into a single ''[[abstraction|abstract]]'' interface for the user. By integrating knowledge of different fixtures and their attributes into the lighting desk [[software]], the detail of how an attribute such as pan or tilt is controlled for one device vs. another can be hidden from the operator. This frees the operator to think in terms of what they want to achieve (e.g. pan 30 degrees clockwise) instead of how it is achieved for any given fixture (e.g. send value 137 down channel 23). Furthermore, should a lighting fixture need to be replaced with one from a different vendor that has different control sequences, no change need be apparent to the control operator. For some further discussion on how intelligent fixtures are controlled, see [[Digital MultipleX]].▼
▲As there is no standard way of controlling an intelligent light, an important function for this type of desk is to consolidate the various ways in which the hundreds of types of intelligent lights are controlled into a single ''[[abstraction|abstract]]'' interface for the user. By integrating knowledge of different fixtures and their attributes into the lighting desk [[software]], the detail of how an attribute such as pan or tilt is controlled for one device vs. another can be hidden from the operator. This frees the operator to think in terms of what they want to achieve (e.g. pan 30 degrees clockwise) instead of how it is achieved for any given fixture (e.g. send value 137 down channel 23). Furthermore, should a lighting fixture need to be replaced with one from a different vendor that has different control sequences, no change need be apparent to the control operator. For some further discussion on how intelligent fixtures are controlled, see [[Digital MultipleX]] (DMX).
=== Personal computer-based controllers ===
[[Image:Usb to dmx pigtail.jpg|thumb|right|A USB-to-DMX connector with integrated controller.]]
[[Personal Computer]] (PC) based controllers are
This system allows a "build-to-fit" approach: the end user initially provides a PC that fits their budget and any other needs with future options to improve the system, for example, by increasing the number of DMX outputs or additional console style panels.
Many lightboard vendors offer a PC software version of their consoles. Commercial lighting control software often
Many console vendors also make a software simulator or "offline editor" for their hardware consoles, and these are often downloadable for free. The simulator can be used to pre-program a show, and the cues then loaded into the actual console. In addition, lighting visualization software is available to simulate and approximate how lighting will appear on stage, and this can be useful for programming effects and spotting obvious programming errors such as incorrect colour changes.
===Remote focus unit===
Many memory consoles have an optional Remote Focus Unit (RFU) controller that can be attached to the light board and used to control the board's functions (though usually in some limited capacity).
Various manufacturers offer software for devices such as [[Android (operating system)|Android]] and [[IPhone|iPhones]] that cause the devices to act as remote controllers for their consoles. Also, independent software developers have released applications that can send [[Art-Net]] packets from an iPhone, thus enabling an iPhone to serve as a fully featured console when used in conjunction with an Art-Net to DMX converter or Art-Net compatible luminaries and dimmers. An example of this is ETC's (Electronic Theater Controls) app called iRFR for Apple devices or aRFR for Android devices.
The ''Controller Interface Transport Protocol'', or ''CITP'', is a [[network protocol]] used between visualizers, lighting control consoles and [[media server]]s to [[Data transmission|transport]] non-show critical information during [[pre-production]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Claiborne|first1=Vickie|title=Media Servers for Lighting Programmers: A Comprehensive Guide to Working with Digital Lighting|date=4 February 2014|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=9781317938224|pages=101–104|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tPrJAgAAQBAJ&q=CITP+protocol&pg=PT119|access-date=17 June 2016|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Tannemyr|first1=Peppe|title=Hippotizer Forum Scandinavia - Information|url=http://www.digigobos.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=288|website=www.digigobos.com|publisher=SSR Beacon DigiGobos|access-date=17 June 2016}}</ref> The protocol is used for a number of purposes including [[DMX512|SDMX]], browsing media and thumbnails, and streaming media among different devices.<ref>{{cite web|title=MADRIX 3 Help and Manual|url=http://help.madrix.com/m3/html/madrix/index.html?hidd_citp.html|website=help.madrix.com|access-date=17 June 2016}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[Avolites]]
* [[Compulite]]
* [[
* [[Genlyte Group]]
* [[George Izenour]]
* [[Light board operator]], the person working the lightboard.
* [[Lighting control system]]s for a building or residence.
* [[Non-dim circuit]]
* [[Strand Lighting]]
==References==
{{
==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last=Essig |first=Linda |date=2002 |title=The Speed Of Light |___location=Portsmouth NH |publisher=Heinemann (Reed Elsevier) | isbn=0-325-00508-7}}
* {{cite book |last1=Rosenthal |first1=Jean | last2=Wertenbaker | first2=Lael |date=1972 |title=The Magic Of Light |___location=Boston | publisher=Little, Brown and Company/Theater Arts Books }}
* {{cite book |last1=Huntington |first1=John |date=2000 |title=Control Systems for Live Entertainment |___location=Boston | publisher=Focal Press |isbn=0-240-80348-5}}
{{Commons category|Lighting consoles}}
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