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Lighting control  trends 

Listen while you read! ⓘ

by Kamron Beheshti

Lazy WalkCheel
00:00 / 02:40
INTRODUCTION

A current trend and technological advancement in the industry is lighting control and lighting consoles. A lighting console is a piece of hardware that is used for the control of a lighting fixture or lantern. The console can be any size, shape and levels of complexity.

 

Some of the latest/most advanced lighting consoles include the Avolites Diamond 9 [1], Chamsys MQ 500m [2], ETC Eos Apex 20 [3] and the GrandMA 3 Full Size [4].

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the current issue

The progress of lighting consoles and the software within them are sometimes taken for granted and the lighting industry is more focused on the lighting fixtures and systems. 

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In the industry now there are a load of lighting consoles and control software. The main issue is that when digital lighting consoles like the Avolites Tiger Touch 2 [5] the consoles since then and the companies has always had a feature that the other does not. 

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Avolites Tiger Touch 2

Avolites Tiger Touch 2

Picture 1

People receiving training nowadays can also affect why the lighting consoles are more digital and more of a preset board console. The graph, while it doesn’t show the names of the consoles it can show that a lot of people receive training on newer consoles.

Via Entourage Pro 

what's hot right now?

Some of the current trends withing lighting control include the Avolites Synergy [6] which allows you to combine lighting and video. Then there is timecode, which has been used for a while but is more reliable and easy to use with companies trying to find a new and easier way to timecode. Finally, there is the trend or desire in the industry for a better console for less money. This is due to the fact people want more screens, faders, executors and gadgets on consoles without spending so manufacturers are finding a way to improve technology to make this possible in the long run. The trends with lighting consoles are that the manufacturers tend to give the customers what they want, especially with the software, this makes the trends more of common knowledge between the manufacturers rather than one having a selling point feature. 

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Some trends like the Avoltes Synergy [6] are the fact that it has everything a consumer would want, it is easy, efficient and reliable. The concept of 'less work for more outcome' is what people want especially with the majority of techs working unsociable hours.

The alternatives

While lighting consoles may seem like a select few and far between there can be some other alternatives, while the flagship consoles are the best ones there can be some other options. You can go down the route of software only, this trend in the industry has more recently become more standard for a few reasons, firstly it's cheaper you don't have to buy a physical console just the key to the software. It is also better for a very small lighting setup or just to learn the software. An example of this is the Avolites T1 [7] and the Avolites T2 [8]. This is a dongle that allows you to use the Avolites software and send a DMX signal directly out of the computer. 

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If you want to go that little bit further you can have a PC console with your computer. A PC console or PC wing is a small console with no screen that you can attach to your computer running the software as a 'control panel' This then makes it like a normal console but again is cheaper and is suitable if you have got a somewhat of a bigger venue. A PC wing like the new Avolites T3 [9] is a console that would work with your computer. In the industry, more and more manufacturers are putting out better PC consoles as everyone prefers the hand-on-hand console to a PC and it's cheaper which in today's cost of living crisis, can be everything for the events industry.

Its up to the person

At the end of the day, it is up to the Lighting Designer on what console they choose, whether this is a small console for a big arena or a big console for a 3rd stage festival but whatever it is it does need to be suitable, practical, cost-effective and most importantly comfortable.

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Suitable - The console needs to be suitable, not too big not too small, easy to move etc. If it is not suitable then it will just be making your life more difficult.

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Practical - Does the console have enough features for you? Is the console too much for the situation? and is the console's software good for the situation i.e. An EOS console will be better for the theatre than an Avolites console.

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Cost-effective - If the console needs to be a big expensive flagship console then can it be hired if you are using it for a small amount of time? How reliable is the console? Is it known for always breaking?

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Comfortable - Do you know how to use the console? Are you comfortable using the console for the venue? If you know how to use the console how well do you know it? Could you have to program something you don't know how to?

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A Reddit post [10] on the subreddit r/lightingdesign by the user

u/Tehqy12 asks  "What console do you use/prefer the most?"  

The poll (right) shows some of the best-known industry console

manufacturers. Out of 1.1k votes ETC Eos is on top followed by MA2/3.

This is data that can not be 100% relied upon but does show a good

idea of the preferred/most used console. Looking through the

comments also shows reasons why the graph can be influenced.

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The user u/louischoisy [11]  "Always been an avo guy, recently went on

tour and was forced to use MA. Hate to say it but I fell in love with it." 

This shows that sometimes the choice isn't always ours, you could 

say that the industry trend becomes the standard. If you know

Avolites then go to a venue that has MA3 then you prefer that

console it then becomes a loop because the industry has

'influenced' people on what console they prefer therefore setting

a trend.

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picture 2

Via Reddit

The effect

Lighting console trends may seem small however, bigger things can come from it. Let's say a company has a console that is trending in the industry and is selling well and their sales are through the roof. That company now has more money to invest in new emerging technologies in the industry to possibly set the new trend, then the next and so forth. However, if another company comes along and wipes the first company out of the water with a new trend even more advanced the original company's probability of having the 'next big thing' has gone up in flames. 

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Take the Avolites Diamond 9 [1] for example this console is up there with the best of the best. Part of setting a trend is selling it to the users. Avolites sells the T-Bar on their page as follows  "The T-Bar delivers more refined control with even smoother manual fades. Paired with our unique Scene Master functionality it brings total professionalism to live creativity." When realistically all it is is a fancy fader with a smoother mechanism. The effect of selling a trend can be far more powerful than the trend itself. 

future of control

The future of lighting consoles and software is unpredictable. However, there are some things we can predict or expect. Firstly the chips and interior computing in the consoles will improve with each one released. We may see an introduction to AI into consoles allowing us to make a basic show with ease. 

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An article by Rob Sayer, 2010 quotes Paul Smith [12] saying "Well, while we have lots of controllers, from the best of the most expensive consoles, to the cheapest of the PC Based ‘Virtual’ desks I get the overwhelming impression that we are on the cusp of something better. These days, no matter what control device you use, the process of creating a ‘look’ on stage is much the same no matter the manufacturer." 

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Since this article was released in 2010 there has been a major improvement in technologies in consoles, and the part where "the look on stage is much the same no matter the manufacturers" may not stand as strong as some features do improve the look and make certain looks easier to achieve. Avolites Synergy [6] previously mentioned earlier on is a good example, it makes life easier and opens a new door to programming.

Sustainability

Sustainability in the events industry is a huge factor with as many companies trying to reduce carbon emissions and all do their part for the planet. Now, for some companies in the industry, their is so much that they can do like use renewable energy, use recycled parts, encourage workers to get involved and more. In the industry we do need to use fuel generators as there is not a reliable renewable electric source as of yet.

 

At festivals like Glastonbury every so often they have a 'fallow year' with is when they put the festival on hold for a year to allow the surrounding wildlife to grow and to give the land a rest. The last fallow year was back in 2018 and because of the Covid-19 pandemic there was no festival in 2020 and 2021. As, this took a huge hit to Glastonbury and the whole events industry as everyone was affected by it, it has had a more than positive impact on the environment. [13]

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When it comes to lighting console sustainability manufacturers need to take into account what materials they use to make it, the carbon footprint of using it and most importantly, the benefit of making the console. If they are still making a console no one wants since its so outdated they they should cut if off ad focus on the newer models, still manufacturing a console that only a hand few of people buy is for one, not a good business decision and secondly very bad environmentally.

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THE KEY POLICIES

Within the events industry there are a few key policies that need to be followed, some of the most important ones are: 

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  1. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 - This ensures all safety precautions are to be held at a suitable standard and no companies are cutting corners for profit, risking their employees in the meantime. This is monitored by the HSE (Health and Safety Executive)

  2. Working at Height - As part of the health and safety at work act, working at height is the biggest part of safety in the events industry. Since working at height is a dangerous endeavour, the policies regarding it are as stict as ever. 

  3. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) - COSHH is where hazardous substances like Cleaning Products, maybe some certain pyrotechnics, need to be controlled reasonably and responsibly.

  4. Fire Safety Act 2021 - The fire safety act aims to ensure a safety standard for building if there were a fire. It ensures building standards as well as evacuation plans.

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There are many laws you have to follow, however, it is no secret to that the industry standard is well of from the law standard. Policies like the ones above are the really important ones, the ones that if you don't follow the outcome may be a nightmare beyond nightmares. The events industry has got laws protecting against things like Work Hours and more however, it is somewhat important to prioritise them, focusing on the ones that are not a risk of life but rather a more cooperate thing.

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Linking the policies back to the consoles, manufacturers have to follow certain electricity laws regarding mains voltage and quality of the product. [14] The manufacturers need to keep up to date with all the country's that they sell their products as the laws can change depending on the country.

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Footnotes
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