Lighting control console: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 02:42, 20 September 2021

Revision as of 18:22, 12 May 2022

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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.

[[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 network via a switch to have more control over more complex systems. A common protocol for this is sACN (pronounced: streaming A.C.N.) or Art-Net.

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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 most basic 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.

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.

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=== 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 relatively new, and use software with a feature set similar to that found in a hardware-based console. As dimmers, automated fixtures and other standard lighting devices do not generally have current standard computer interfaces, options such as DMX-512 ports and fader/submaster panels connected via [[Universal Serial Bus|USB]] are commonplace.

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.