Looking for a new console for high school

[LightingManEvan]

Hi!

First, I am very sorry to be starting so many threads lately. Anyway, my high school has a 2 scene preset board with 8 submasters on 4 pages.

I don't know the maker or model of the board(even though I've been in front of it so many times LOL) but I am pretty happy with it. We have no moving lights, just basic fixtures. I want to use gobos in my next production and I also wanted to see about some "GO button" that I have read about on here. My board, atleast I don't think, has this button. So I either have to use the submasters or scene 1 or 2 for each cue.
I also did search on here but could find stuff on a search for a new console but nothing on having no go button. If you have any advice on running without the go button, other than just manual switching, that would be really appreciated. The manual cues are just getting quite tough and having a go button would seem so much easier.

I want to see if we can either get a new board (there's a few issues with this one besides that its very old) and maybe get something that is more modern and one with a GO button so I wouldn't have to manually do each cue. I have read threads on here about new consoles, but do you guys have any ideas for a new console? I really wish my board had a go button, it would be much easier if I had that.

I am not sure what the budget is, because I don't even know if the school will purchase a new one. I would like to hear some options and then I will try to ask the school and talk to the superintendent who is very in to theater and has directed his own plays before.

Thanks for ALL the help, this seems like a great place. Sorry for starting another thread, though.
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[icewolf08]

Please see/post in this thread: http://www.controlbooth.com/forums/l...k-console.html it contains many links to other such discussions as well as basic overviews of how to choose new consoles.

[shiben]

Check out the sticky thread "Help me pick a lighting console" (or something to that effect, its at the top of the thread list). If you buy a new, computer based console, it will have a go button. Actually, I have yet to see one without a go button, but im sure they exist somewhere. Check out the new console thread, and if your still having issues, go ahead and ask more specific questions.

[LightingManEvan]

Thanks guys, I have checked thaty thread before I posted this.

is there a reason why our board doesn't have a go button?

Or should I be looking into a PC based solution where I can run the board from my laptop? I have read threads here on that, but is the software solution something that would work for my school productions?
I just don't like having to manually change every cue and if I could do it from a computer and software, I think that would be much better.

Thanks!
Thanks!
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[derekleffew]

Originally Posted by LightingManEvan

...If you have any advice on running without the go button, other than just manual switching, that would be really appreciated. The manual cues are just getting quite tough and having a go button would seem so much easier. ...

No advice on running a two-scene board. Sounds like you're using it to its optimum, and finding its limitations. These boards quickly become unwieldy when trying to do intricate lighting or when one needs more than 24 channels.

Every memory console will have a <GO> or execute button; some have lots of them. One of the benefits of all memory consoles is ease of repeatability. One needn't worry about getting the channel handles to exactly the same settings each time a cue is run.

Have a look at this thread: http://www.controlbooth.com/forums/l...r-express.html.

[LightingManEvan]

Originally Posted by derekleffew

Every memory console will have a <GO> or execute button; some have lots of them.

Does this mean that our board does have a go or execute button that I haven't found? It does have the ability to save things to a floppy disk, but I don't know if that makes it a memory board by what you are saying.

Thanks!
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[gafftaper]

If I remember right from other posts you have an old two scene preset with submasters. No you don't have a go button. What the modern memory console essentially does is allow you to record hundreds of cues which are sort of like a virtual version of the submasters on your old board, line them all up in order, change the transition times between them, and then press go and fire through them all in order. Every look, every timing, EXACTLY the same every night.

[LightingManEvan]

Originally Posted by gafftaper

If I remember right from other posts you have an old two scene preset with submasters. No you don't have a go button. What the modern memory console essentially does is allow you to record hundreds of cues which are sort of like a virtual version of the submasters on your old board, line them all up in order, change the transition times between them, and then press go and fire through them all in order. Every look, every timing, EXACTLY the same every night.

Oh ok, then that is what I want!

I just the board again for the first time since July and its not in good condition. All the "knobs" on each slider are all loose and some are just falling off. The monitor that shows the dimmer information and all is flickering and has been going off so many times. Once it goes off, the only way to reset it is to turn the whole board off. I would hate for this to happen in a show, actually it did once but it was right before intermission, so it wasn't that bad. But despite this being a very old board and these small problems, I doubt the school would consider purchasing a new one. Any advice in talking to the school about purchasing a new one?

Thanks!
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[fredthe]

Originally Posted by LightingManEvan

I just the board again for the first time since July and its not in good condition.

Did you note the manufacturer or model number (or any other identifying information) on the board?

One consideration before planning to get a new board is do your dimmers talk DMX? If they don't, then an additional converter to talk to any new board.

-Fred

[Les]

Originally Posted by gafftaper

If I remember right from other posts you have an old two scene preset with submasters. No you don't have a go button. What the modern memory console essentially does is allow you to record hundreds of cues which are sort of like a virtual version of the submasters on your old board, line them all up in order, change the transition times between them, and then press go and fire through them all in order. Every look, every timing, EXACTLY the same every night.

Gafftaper is right, and you usually don't have to look very hard for a Go button. It's about as predominant on a memory console as the space bar is on your QWERTY keyboard. What you have is in fact a manual 2-scene preset which can't do much more than record a few submasters. I'm sure that memory consoles existed back when your system was installed, but it was probably decided that a memory console would be too cost prohibitive and that the features of one would never be needed. I don't know how old your school is, but it could have been built back when 2-scene preset was the norm and memory consoles were only used on larger scale productions and Broadway tours.

One good thing about starting on a manual board is learning how to "feel" the lights. Keep at it, and keep trying to push that new board, but be prepared for the fact that this has to go through a grant and/or bid process which may not end until after you've graduated. Even then, they may bid out a cheaper console with "similar" features in order to save money. All lighting consoles look the same to accountants. It's the figures that make up their mind. In that case, an Innovator=Element=LightPallet and the choice is clear to them... The Innovator is WAY cheaper and seemingly does a lot of the same stuff.

Gafftaper himself started a great thread on the bid process of his blackbox theatre. If I remember correctly, he had to be extremely careful with his wording so that he got real Source Four ellipsoidals, and not some Chinese knock-offs. Obviously, in any bid process, you are at the mercy of the lowest bidder, who will do the job as cheaply as possible so as to make the most profit. This may or may not result in the end-user getting what they want. To sum it up, it is a little more complicated than just asking for "Brand X" light board.