Recent content by autophage

Highschool: moving away from boxy Altman zooms (which are out of production - HOARD YOUR PARTS!) and Leko 20's, 30's, and 40's (which are a pain because nobody knew the difference...) towards Source 4's. Not many parcans, some cyc lights in the back, and some 6" Fresnels of varying vintage...

Broken or crappy things, I can fix or cannibalize. The school usually looks the other way when the lighting fairy comes to visit with his magical soldering wand. What bugs me are really fancy things that we can't properly control. An ETC Express board just isn't the best way to work with...

It's definitely possible. The only issue is that you'll get shadow issues if the lights are offset too much spacially (yellow background, but if something comes between the light and the cyc then there'll be a shadow of green and a shadow of red). Something that will help a LOT is using...

Whenever I'm teaching someone the basics of set design, the first thing I do is show them the Backstage Handbook (previously mentioned) and tell them that while desigining set it is their bible. Also helps to have the commonly referenced parts (appropriate stair ratios especially) bookmarked.

I wasn't talking about purchasing anything - our purchase order system I actually sort of for the most part understand, and they'll sign just about anything. I meant in terms of allowing students to save the school money by putting knowledge to use that we've gained outside of the normal means...

This reminds me of a website I saw once where a guy had built his own hifi system and used standard US extension cords (designed for power) to power his speakers, figuring he'd be the only person to use them. But when he moved into a new house, some overly helpful mover plugged in a speaker...

Well, we sometimes try introducing actors to different theorists - for instance, today we're rehearsing Suzuki-style - barefoot, all movements come from feet; but tomorrow we may be rehearsing Stanislavski-style. Some will find it boring but if you get into some really strange warmups it can...

It's expensive, but for those last-minute dutchmanning jobs gaff tape can be a lifesaver.

Just so happens that I designed set for GITH as my school's spring show roughly six months ago. And I'm in Northern Virginia too. We just sort of halfassed it though - our construction guy showed up, ahh, not always in the best capacities as it were - and it became one of those 'it's a miracle...

As to the actual question - a fuse is meant to blow. The idea is that if a part costing less than a dollar and that is easily replaceable blows instead of an electronic system that cost lots of money, it's a good deal. It's a protective measure. When it blows, it means there's either a...

My school has two Intellabeams. They were so cool and shiny and new when we got them just two years ago but they quickly started glitching out... and they blow fuses more often than it seems they should (I've changed them before, it's not hard, but the school board REALLY doesn't want student...

DMXtools, I like your method but it only corrects for feedback rather than what the mix sounds like - although both are of equal concern. Another piece of advice is to play with lots of EQ units other than the one you usually use - you'll get to know quickly which bands feel good to you...

It depends on what sounds you want to bring out hte most. As a general rule, cut rather than boost (amplification stages in EQ sections are not known for their quality) and try not to do weird, vast changes with the EQ (as it pushes each section out of phase with the others, causing the sound...

I'm new here but hate introduction posts, so I'm going to start off with a question. 'm trying to record voiceovers to reel-to-reel tape (they'll end up on computer for easier cuing/proper timing, but want the pitch control and background sound available by using oldschool tape equipment)...