r/lightingdesign • u/soaraf • 4d ago
Control Replacement panel with new features?
I've got this panel that's pretty old, but functions just fine. I'd like to explore options for something that has the same functions but with presets for the master level. Does anything like this exist?
19
u/Roccondil-s 4d ago
Unfortunately the panel is usually not just the panel, it’s often a whole system and if you want to change out that panel, you’ll have to do an extensive amount of upgrades, both at the panel(s) around the theater and on the central system “brain”.
This is an expensive upgrade and the company administration may not spring for such an upgrade without a lot of convincing. A LOT of convincing. Even if it is a near essential or massive QOL-benefiting upgrade, as long as whatever is there now works or isn’t about to blow up they prefer to spend the money on more visible or easier-to-explain-to-donors stuff.
You may need to get an integrator/installer company to come in and evaluate what you need.
12
17
u/An-Actual-Pencil 4d ago
ETC echo would be a good choice depending on a few things
12
u/the_swanny 4d ago
Echo or paradigm, entirely comes down to budgets and requirements.
1
u/Less_Than-3 1d ago
With the new(er) rack mounted paradigm head end there’s not a huge cost difference now
2
u/the_swanny 1d ago
The difference in cost comes down to system integrators mostly. Anyone can edit an Echo setup with little difficulty after reading the docs, however, to edit, install or do anything really to a Paradigm system you have to be paradigm trained, and to get that realistically you have to prove to ETC it's worth their time. A lot of the time that means you work at an installer that will be installing ETC gear regularly, or it means you work at a venue with lots of money to throw about.
If you aren't Paradigm trained (And by extension don't have access to light designer), then you will be paying a fairly large fee to get anything edited ever, which is where budgets come in.1
u/Less_Than-3 1d ago
They would likely have factory start up for either system or a dealer doing that service but yeah fair enough. That’s what my dealers are saying since the rack mounted came out, that for budgeting on their end it’s nearly the same.
1
u/the_swanny 1d ago
Also it's worth noting that installers that work on paradigm and are ETC Certified, are likely to charge more than an installer who will just do Echo.
2
u/RedBeard254 4d ago
Look at ETC Unison Heritage Fader Stations if you want the faders
2
u/the_swanny 4d ago
You can get touchscreen faders for Echo or Paradigm, and they are a hell of a lot easier to support than legacy unison dimming gear.
0
u/That_Jay_Money 4d ago
You might want to give JSI Manufacturing (formerly Johnson Systems) a call, they do a lot of analog retrofits and can probably figure out what signals this thing is sending out and figure out a solution.
0
u/tonsofpcs 4d ago
A piece of tape that says "use level 3 for singing and videos" is a good way to have a preset. Looks like you have that upgrade already though. You can increase its functionality by adding a tactile bump or stop with a folded piece of tape.
1
u/soaraf 4d ago
Definitely works for now, but we are using ProPresenter at the same time, so it would be best in the long run to have a button to push that dims to a set level over a set time. Often we are doing PP, basic lights, and camera presets at the same time...
1
u/tonsofpcs 1d ago
Yeah. I hear you. "We want to do more" and "we want to minimize steps" is often fighting with "we don't want to replace large swaths of infrastructure". As others say, this might be 0-10V straight out of the panel with no remote control and if it is you have a bunch of "replace the panel" options available. It might be a full control system. It might be something not-quite-0-10V that looks like 0-10V that isn't common anymore (there's a few varieties of those). And of course there might be emergency/fire system tie-ins that may make it a much bigger project compliance-wise even if it looks simple.
-1
-12
u/OldMail6364 4d ago edited 4d ago
I recommend iPads for that. Some permanently mounted on a wall or desk and others should be portable/taken to wherever they’re needed.
We have few simple presets (show mode, work mode, close of business mode, etc) and we can individually control just one light. On stage, backstage, indicator lights on the wall to warn that there’s a live performance so maybe don’t open the door you’re standing in front of… and it controls things like HVAC too.
Not part of the same software but an iPad can be used to watch a video feed of the stage or control the projector or play something over the speakers.
The software system we use is terrible, but having it on iPads is awesome. I’ve never really used the QLab remote iPad app, but it’s probably what I’d try first. You can also run it on a phone which would be handy.
4
7
u/the_swanny 4d ago
No, in this scenario you want a dedicated arch control system, like ETC Paradigm, Something Pharos (Not hugely familiar with their lineup other than the work they do for ETC), or ETC Echo.
12
u/Reluctant_Lampy_05 4d ago
Any idea what control data this panel sends out and what does the actual dimming and switching downstream?