jason@mit-amt.UUCP (02/05/87)
I am looking for programs, and sources if they are available, PD or not, for the Mac or the IBM PC family that controlls lighting in performance settings such as dance and theatre. Theoretically, you run a serial line into the dimmer panel and you've got serial control. I've heard of such a thing, but have no idea where to begin looking. Any pointers or advice would be appreciated. Thanks. -- Jason Kinchen jason@media-lab.MIT.EDU
krs@amdahl.UUCP (02/06/87)
In article <679@mit-amt.MEDIA.MIT.EDU> jason@mit-amt.MEDIA.MIT.EDU (Jason A. Kinchen) writes: >I am looking for programs, and sources if they are available, PD or >not, for the Mac or the IBM PC family that controlls lighting in >performance settings such as dance and theatre. If you check the trade rags for lighting design, you'll find many advertisements along these lines. (Now, what are the names?? Uhh, "Lighting Dimensions" is one, I think.) The USITT should be able to put you onto the many products and producers. There are also programs out to help the lighting designer work up hanging plots/schedules, cabling, and dimmer assignment and loading. Some of the ads I've seen in *that* area are amazing in their power and flexibility ("Okay, Mac, show me what Inst. 3 on House Pipe 1 is doing in a vertical cutaway. Hmmm. Okay, show me the same looking down from above. ..."). You load in your theatre plan and instrument list and it uses the inventory as you go. I wish I'd had that the last time I did a design! In general, control systems for the PC and Apple ][ are prevalent. They call for a plug-in board that gets wired out to your dimmer systems. I haven't seen anything for the Mac, yet, but if it's there, it probably runs off of the modem and printer ports. As for source, I wouldn't count on access, but wotthehell, you might get lucky. I you need more specific information, send mail - I have a friend who's much more knowledgeable and I can pick her brains for details. Break a leg, ...Kris Stephens -- Kris Stephens, | (408-746-6047) | {whatever}!amdahl!krs Amdahl Corporation | | -or- krs@amdahl.amdahl.com [The opinions expressed above are mine, solely, and do not ] [necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Amdahl Corp. ]
mikeb@cbmvax.UUCP (02/09/87)
In article <679@mit-amt.MEDIA.MIT.EDU> jason@mit-amt.MEDIA.MIT.EDU (Jason A. Kinchen) writes: >I am looking for programs, and sources if they are available, PD or >not, for the Mac or the IBM PC family that controlls lighting in >performance settings such as dance and theatre. Theoretically, you >run a serial line into the dimmer panel and you've got serial control. >I've heard of such a thing, but have no idea where to begin looking. >Any pointers or advice would be appreciated. > >Thanks. >Jason Kinchen >jason@media-lab.MIT.EDU Try Anakin Research in the Toronto Area.(416)744-4246 They were working with a system for the Amiga.