Lights and Sound: Intelligent Lights

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Intelligent Lights

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Lights and Sound
Forum Discription: Technical discussion
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2725
Printed Date: 5/08/25 at 3:43am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Intelligent Lights

Posted By: Bosco
Subject: Intelligent Lights
Date Posted: 10/08/07 at 5:26pm

Our theatre is a rennovated space that is on the historical registry. We have a challenge in that it would cost a lot more money to put in traditional lighting and archeticturally might not even be feasible. Finally, our newly formed non profit is buying equipment. The theatre is a space that we are renting (essentially). There is no rigging or catwalks, no fly system at all.

I have met with a lighting consultant who suggested the use of intelligent lights that can simply be placed on a shelf built in the balcony instead of a traditional Elipsodals for the flexibility of the color changing and the movement of the lights. I can still daisy chain any traditional lighting (we have par can lights) too.

Does anyone have any experience with using this type of lights in a small theatre. Our stage is 28 x 16 and the seating is probably around 150 with auditorium style configuration. An example would be the http://www.elationlighting.com/category.asp?category=Moving%20Head - Elation PowerSpot 250 or 575.

I like the idea of portability and thinking ahead 5 years. We don't have a huge budget but I feel confident that we can fundraise for additional lights along the way.

Thoughts?

Replies:

Posted By: 75director
Date Posted: 10/08/07 at 7:56pm

One thing we've found you need to keep in mind with intelligent lights is the noise they make. We have two Chauvet Legend 3000s and while I love the effects we create with them their cooling fans are quite loud.

We're in a 200 seat black box theatre so the noise does become a bit of an issue. We've found that if we have them on when the audience comes in they don't notice them, it becomes white noise in the room, but if we were to kick them on during the show they would be very noticeable.

Also alot of intelligent lights use a very white light like the kind you get from a video projector. So when you put ungelled light from one next to a standard source four you can tell the difference in the quality of light. Someone more knowledgable about color sceince can probably explain that better than me.

Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 10/08/07 at 9:41pm

Before you back yourselves imto a corner, primarly most of the inteligent lighting is devised for rock music industry. Musicals use them quite a lot, niose is masked by the music, for the reasons 75director posted.
I thyink may be your group would be better to hire before you buy.
While there is advantagious, I believe you may lose lighting aspects by restricting beam angles from a location on the balcony?
While they are refurbishing, is there a possibliyu of having 'Clouds' put in the FOH to mask a Bar/catwalk system, Perch positions & even Cove Slots?

-------------
Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

Posted By: Bosco
Date Posted: 10/08/07 at 11:52pm

Thanks 75Director and Gaafa. Great point on the quality of light issue since I will probably combine with par can lights. I can see how the sound of the motor might be an issue too.

To clarify the space has been refurbished already. The intent was to make it a nice space for receptions and such and the owner just made the theatre look nice but really didn't refurbish for stage performance. There is no cat walk or cove slots. There are a couple beams across the ceiling but we can't attach anything to it. We don't have to secure them to the balcony necessarily, in fact that are pretty mobile and can placed close if necessary. I was more concerned with the strength and intensity.

Posted By: Attreui
Date Posted: 2/19/08 at 12:54pm

A little more info would be helpful here. What is the power predicament at this facility in the balcony? What is the throw distance between the balcony and the stage. Getting a theatrical wash out of intels is a very tricky thing. You would probably need a combination of profiles and wash lights. It sounds like you may have a lot better luck with PAR's and if you really need the color changing look into scrollers. Would be a ton cheaper than intels.