LOR for Theatrical Lighting?

[supergumby]

Hi. I am a current LOR user (64 channels). I just finished my first year - what a blast!

I'm wondering if I can use LOR in a school play setting. LOR seems geared for time based, or sequenced displays. I'm looking for scene based lighting combinations that can be assigned to software buttons and selected during a show.

Is this not possible with LOR, or am I missing something very basic?

[TitusCarnathan]

Yes

You will need to set up trigger inputs on your controllers to go with certian shows

I am certain it will work

[csf]

The hardware utility does have a 16 channel console that can be used to control one unit similar to a lighting board.

But LOR now operate on DMX so you can use a DMX control board to operate your LOR controllers.

[TitusCarnathan]

I think he is referring to small general school settings but yes he is right you can use a dmx board on lor using the rj45 to dmx adapter but If i understand you correctly you want to be able to press a button at a given time durring a play to run a sequence?:? if so this is possable

[tomskillman]

LOR boards do understand DMX and LOR sells the adapter cable (which you can make yourself if you want to spend the time with a short RJ45 Patch cable and an XLR connector (3 pin or 5 pin, depending on your equipment). LOR can then be controlled by your DMX board which can usually run at least one or two chase sequences. Some of the better boards can do more sequences. If you had need to fire off a sequence from a button, you could use a separate board for that - I don't know if you can use triggers with DMX. The big issue you're going to have is capacity. Just remember LOR boards are rated 8 Amp per channel (with high power heat sinks) and 15-20 Amp per side......most thetrical lights are 500 or 1000 watts - 2-4 lights and you're done....so of those 16 channels, you will probably only be using 4-8. Now there are many times when I'm working a show and we need to do something with small loads - LOR would be perfect for that, instead of wasting a good dimmer channel. Something using Christmas Lights or 150 watt floods would work great on an LOR channel instead of the regular theatrical dimmer which is designed for larger loads.

Hope that helps!

[supergumby]

Thanks for the replies.

I was hoping to use my existing hardware of LOR controllers and software to control the stage lights, without having to use a DMX console.

I a understand using the control console in the hardware utility, but I need to set up combinations of lights on presets, that do not sequence.



Thanks again.

[csf]

Unfortunately I do not know of any program that will do that, if some one finds one please let us know.

[TitusCarnathan]

if you have the advanced version you could use trigger inputs and since you have 64 channels I believe you would have either 8 to 12 inputs you could hook up to buttons then with the press of a button a sequence would start

[Jack Stevens]

Supergumby -

If this is a one-time thing, forget the triggered inputs. Forget DMX. You do have to keep in mind the current loads of what you're trying to do, and the LOR software license level.

Download the latest version of LOR S2 software. I haven't played with it yet, but the last change notice said you can now run a show on demand from the LOR software.

Create your "shows" to run as you need; flickering table/floor lamps, lightning sequences with thunderclaps, individual areas of stage lighting, etc. - but keep in mind those current limitations - 8 amps per channel, 15 or 20 amps per side depending on the controller, etc. No large inductive loads unless you isolate it with a relay and just do on/off.

From this link on the LOR website about version 2.7.4: http://lightorama.com/help/index.html?whats_new.htm

Show On Demand
You can now cause a show to be played without having scheduled it. This is done via the "Show On Demand" menu item of the Light-O-Rama Control Panel's popup menu.

Please note that this feature is available only for license levels Basic Plus and higher.

A "stage hand" can operate the laptop/desktop for the play. I hope that does what you want/need.

- Jack

[supergumby]

Thanks for the suggestions.

What I have ended up doing is connecting one of my CTB16PC controllers to 6 separate stage lights (they're small - 250 watts ea), and controlling them with a DMX console program on a PC. This gives me all of the scene controls I need.

Now I have a new issue to solve before I expand this setup.

The DMX program will connect to the controller, the status light becomes steady, and all of the channels respond correctly..........for about five or ten minutes. After that, the status light will start flashing, the lights go off and I have a very difficult time reconnecting, even after cycling the power to the controller and rebooting the computer. Sometimes I have to connect the SC485 to the PC and the controller, run the hardware utility, then re connect the DMX and it will resume operating....for another 10 minutes. Nothing is getting hot; I can run this same setup in an LOR network for hours.

The controller is running 4.3 firmware and the controller ID is 01.

Any ideas?