Starting New: LED + R/T + Board

Hi

I am trying to put together lighting for an auditorium at a church. What would you recommend for lighting equipment, given we are not sophisticated users, but would like a good lighting system which can last for some time.

Preference is wireless, we have Cat5/Cat6, but it will be difficult to run wires.
20-30 stage lights
50-70 auditorium lights

Do you recommend a board or software (QLab)?
Can I combine sound and light together with cues and use QLab or any other software?


I am a newbie in this area, so please feel free to give any recommendations, I am going to absorb and educate myself with all the information.

Thanks,
Raj

Welcome back to CB @rjain15 , as sometime happens, you came for answers, and first you get questions.
How big a space, ceiling height, stuff like that?
How complex of a system do you need, what kind of service and other events do you have?
Of course, the big question, BUDGET!
Oh yeah, pictures are great.

JohnD said:

How big a space, ceiling height, stuff like that?

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around 75 ft x 30 ft (approx, but it might be bigger) ceiling height from stage 25 ft.

JohnD said:

How complex of a system do you need, what kind of service and other events do you have?

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Medium Complexity is ok, as long as it can be managed by a group of operators with varying degrees of familiarity - similar to students who come in a learn and then rotate.

JohnD said:

Of course, the big question, BUDGET!

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I have to go back to the board with the proposal and cost. I don't know what it would cost, so in the recommendations, I can look for that -- or I can do research once I know what options I have.

JohnD said:

Oh yeah, pictures are great.

Click to expand...

, Yes, I will get the this week.

Thanks for asking the questions, asking the questions helps me to frame the problem well, I didn't know what to ask

I'm in the same sort of buildout process currently.
How big is the stage compared to the audience? That seems like an exaggerated number for house lights, unless there's tons of decorative sconces.
Any thought of moving lights, color or just general coverage and flexibility?

macsound said:

I'm in the same sort of buildout process currently.
How big is the stage compared to the audience? That seems like an exaggerated number for house lights, unless there's tons of decorative sconces.
Any thought of moving lights, color or just general coverage and flexibility?

Click to expand...

stage might be 20% size of audience area. I think the house lights might be less, this is not a typical auditorium, is more a flat hall with house lights and stage (church)

Is the stage lighting going to be 'set and forget' or will the fixtures be moving around a lot or will it be something in-between?

If the former, I highly recommend staying with wired control as you won't have to worry about technology changes or interference (and there's a bit less to go wrong with each device). If the latter, well, it depends how much you want to move (and the answers to all the other questions that others have and will ask to help).

eadler said:

Is the stage lighting going to be 'set and forget' or will the fixtures be moving around a lot or will it be something in-between?

If the former, I highly recommend staying with wired control as you won't have to worry about technology changes or interference (and there's a bit less to go wrong with each device). If the latter, well, it depends how much you want to move (and the answers to all the other questions that others have and will ask to help).

Click to expand...

We currently have stage lights which were installed 10 years back, and I am ok replacing them with LEDs. The fixtures today are set and forget, but I cannot have new wired connections because the ceiling and the walls don't have way to run the cables. My preference would be wireless as we are making this investment and as we go along, it will hopefully give us the ability to add new lights /controls and upgrade. I am open to listening to all recommendations... and doing my research once I know what to build. Thanks!!

Retrofit electrics can get tricky, depending on what is in those walls and ceilings. Step 1- do a detailed exam, with an electrician along if at all possible. Any member electricians?

My go to source for simple, moderately priced gear for volunteers is ETC ColorSource line etcconnect.com. Fixtures, console, and DMX relay/ wireless that are solidly built and serviced. There really won't be a need to go with better stage gear. If you spend less you will get much less.

"House Lights" and everyday controls is where things can get expensive and complicated. Unless you want color in the seats (very popular but pricey) then architectural fixtures are a better deal. Dimmers on LED retrofit lamps are the worst option, DMX direct fixtures are the best, 0-10v control is the mid point. Start with how they are mounted, recessed, surface, pendant or other, and get some help figuring out how many of what brightness are needed. Note that wattage is a lousy way to pick fixtures, "total lumens" and field angle are the basics. Then move on to controls.

If you want to keep janitors away from your console, you need something for them to use. The DFD.com P10 line of buttons is as practical and minimal as I like to go. ETC's Echo or EchoFlex systems may prove more useful if you need the features. The short story is; get your wants and needs identified and separated from each other.

We just had a long thread on wireless reliability. https://www.controlbooth.com/threads/wireless-dmx.44037/#post-382982
Most places use wired controls and run perfectly for decades. Many places use wireless for years and years without problems. Some places run wireless with occasional glitches and some just fail outright. The big issue is that it's very hard to predict how well wireless will work for you.

I hope you aren't overwhelmed. Feel free to ask follow up questions!