Dark Routines for Movers

[JD]

Although it is handy to send a dark routine to a mover to confirm it has power and is on line without putting any light on stage, I have notices that many operators leave a lot of movers in dark routines during shows. I can't think of any benefit to this outside of visual conformation that distribution is working. Am I missing something?

[DarSax]

Dark routines--as in, movement without the shutter open?

[JD]

Originally Posted by DarSax

Dark routines--as in, movement without the shutter open?

Yep!
Often done at concerts. Can't be good for them, so I figure there is some reason.

[Charc]

Originally Posted by JD

Yep!
Often done at concerts. Can't be good for them, so I figure there is some reason.

Perhaps Ship sent them a used lamp because the previous tour didn't set the (what's the term?) lamp hour counter?

Other than that, that's a very good question. Maybe they set all the light to X pattern, or something, then it is easier just to leave them dark then to change them to home, what with the short programming time?

[DarSax]

I'd probably agree with that, just board op laziness I'd suspect--unless (and this might not be true, and you could also get around it) the design was to have those fixtures turn on later in the middle of the ballyhoo or what have you, and to make sure they synched up, have them run the motion with the dowser closed until they went on. That, or last-minute changes meant fewer fixtures being on, but without enough time to go ahead and make sure they went back to home and were still.

But that seems unlikely, especially for a professional board op. Its easier to just leave them.

[digitaltec]

Move in black cues are a huge element in moving light programming. For instance, you want a light to be in a certain spot on the stage for a certain cue. Instead of having it track from the home position to your set position you program the light in dark in your set position so when that cue comes up the light is already in position all you have to do is open up the shutter, etc.

If there is an effect running in black, then there is a movement that the LD wants to happen when the lights are already in motion instead of tracking from home.

Now grant it, it does have value in your design if your lights do track from home to their effect or static positions but this is not always wanted in say theatrical applications.

Does this make answer your question?

[Footer]

Many people will put a fixture in a movement (can-can... all that fun stuff) and just leave it there and open the shutter when they want the effect to run. Its programming laziness most of the time, sometimes though it needs to be that way. Many people will put the effect on one pallet, run the effect, and punch the shutters when they want the effect.

[JD]

Originally Posted by digitaltec

If there is an effect running in black, then there is a movement that the LD wants to happen when the lights are already in motion instead of tracking from home.

Would make sense if they moved to a new position and stayed there, but what I keep seeing is more of a oscillation. Saw it last time the Clapton show was in town, again at the Chesney concert, and quite a few times in concert videos. Usually just moving to and fro with no apparent setup for the next cue. Almost like they are being exercised! I use plenty of dark cues myself, but these don't seem to have an end purpose. My only "guess" would be old data left over from a prior scene that is now being used as a blackout. It's just a matter of seeing it so many times that you start to wonder if there is some reason for it!

Just caught Footer's post. Yea, kind of what I was thinking..

[Grog12]

Originally Posted by digitaltec

Now grant it, it does have value in your design if your lights do track from home to their effect or static positions but this is not always wanted in say theatrical applications.
Does this make answer your question?

/channelderek What exactly do you want to grant it? A new home? A place in the show? Or where you looking for granted \channelderek

(Proof I hang around here too much)

[digitaltec]

Sorry Grog12, I am a roadie not a English Major. I'll try harder next time... not really....