Strand Lighting Light Control System
By Alexander Markelov

Not far from Berlin , in the are of Potsdam city the "German Hollywood" with "German Universal Studios" is situated. It fact that is made by the latest techniques studio complex Babelsberg with adjoining attraction Film Park . Earlier this territory was known under the name of "Defa" Film studio

In July of 2002 the curious visitors that passed on the excursion trains by one of the acting TV studios with interest were watching the lively crowd that from time to time appeared in from of the studio doors. People were loudly speaking among themselves on different languages, among which could be heard Russian and then after the following eating on the specially set for them "feeding station" disappeared in the building again. The thing is that Strand Lighting Company conducted one of the seminars for European representatives. Professionals in the field of luminary equipment and light control systems on the base of Berlin branch of Strand Lighting in Babelsberg for seeing the new equipment in action, discuss current technical problems and discuss plans for the future. The question is, what had made specialists to come to the seminar of that very company?

Short information

Not so long ago the Strand Lighting Company celebrated one hundred years since the beginning of its work in 1900 the Strand Electric Company began to serve London theaters. In 1926 the Century Lighting Company started to exist, which served theaters of Broadway in New York . Uniting of these two companies gave the name to Strand Lighting Company.

When in 1936 the first regulation broadcast form Alexander's Palace in London had started its studios were equipped with special projectors Strand .

For enlarging and perfecting of cinema and TV luminariers assortment in 1986 this company bought world famous luminariers plant Quartzcolor in Rome. Now its production is sold under the Strand brand.

Today Strand Lighting is a broadcast company, which has representations in all of the developed countries and stably maintains high reputation of world leader in the field luminariers production for theater, cinema and television.

Now returning to the question it is necessary to mention that during the last period of time there appeared a large number of light control systems. That is why it is the most possible that the specialists who came to the seminar were attracted by the opportunity not only to see the new equipment of Strand Lighting Company, but also to understand the tendencies of the development of contemporary light control systems and to choose the perspective direction for themselves.

Now we would like to pay attention to the information that is probably the most interesting for professionals who work with light in cinema and television.

First of all we would like to mention the fact that in the field of luminariers checking and controlling systems at present there appeared a tendency of transfer to the well-known data transfer, which is Ethernet. Of course, there exist other protocols of information transfer, such as Profibus or Can. With no doubts, they have some advantages and can exist, but these systems are too expensive for the majority of users and are not wide spread.

Traditionally used and well spread in TV and film studios are systems of analogous (0...10 V) and digital (DMX-512) control that are easily compatible with Ethernet. For that the special network unit developed by the Strand Lighting Company are used, which provide fast connection to the analogous and DMX systems and to different periphery to the general system. The main difference between DMX-512 and Ethernet is that the data flow through DMX channels flows in one direction

SN100 network unit

iPaq mobile control console

Full-scale network units SN100 and SN102 provide the connection of monitors, digitizers, printers, remote control panels and other facilities what provides the simplicity of exploitation and high flexibility of the system. Now operator or deputy director has an opportunity to connect to the general control system. Having the compact wireless iPaq control panel they can operatively input the necessary visual and time light correction in the program of light distribution on the filming area on they own.

Light designer is most likely to prefer digitizer, which simplifies and speeds up the process of setting of difficult staging light in big studios in few times.

Network units SN103 and SN104 can be called "hard workers" of the system as they provide four DMX entry/outlet, connection of remote control panel, and systems of information gathering about dimmer condition.

SN103 network unit

One of the most resent and comfortable facilities assigned for concordance of Ethernet and DMX-512 control protocols is small dimensional module SN110. It has one Ethernet entry/outlet and two DMX entries/outlets and doesn't require additional power supply. The electron scheme and LCD panel of that facility are powered directly from the Ethernet network what simplifies its setting in any out-of-the-way places.

SN110 unit (on suspension - bottom)

The network system ShowNet Ethernet developed by Strand Lighting became, in fact, the standard in the light technique industry. It provides the reliable operation in simple configurations as well as in complicated studio systems. ShowNet operates with Windows and is so simple in work that for connection of control panels, units, and periphery one click of mouse is enough. Network units are produced in different modifications: portable, in body for setting on the hanging system, rack mount, or just on stage. The network units are connected to the control panels, dimmers and all other equipment of special lightning.

Quality and reliability of control panels and dimmers of Strand Lighting production is well-known. Equipment of that company reliably operates in TV studios, situated in Kremlin, TV broadcast center "Ostankino", on TV channels ORT, NTV, TNT and in many other contemporary TV companies. Starting from the quality and reliability requirements the Big Theater and State Kremlin Palace had chosen equipment of this company for themselves.

LX12 and LX24 consoles

Among the control panel in not big and TV studios the digital control panels MX12 and MX24, with 12 and 24 sub-masters correspondingly became the most popular. They have outlet signal of DMX, AMX and D54 standards and are capable of operating with any Strand dimmers.

If according to some thoughts there appears the necessity for the user to control analogous signals, for that purpose the analogous control panels LX12 and LX24 are produced. They are appropriate for operating with dimmer blocks ACT6 and CD80.

To change LX- and MX-control panels in the nearest future there will come more perfect ones of 100, 200 and 301 series in 12, 24 and 48 channels correspondingly. These inexpensive and fast-acting panels provide rapid data processing, new special effects and additional comfort in exploitation.

As to control panels for medium and large studios, in that aria control panels of 300 series, which are built on module principle, became leaders. Module construction simplifies configuration changes of the facility according to light requirements or starting from just financial thoughts. However it is important to know that buying based module, for example on 24/48 channels, it is possible to input in its memory the according access code and to receive when it is necessary already 125, 250 or much bigger amount of channels. Besides there is an opportunity to widen control panel configuration for more difficult tasks. For maximum concordance with different tasks the control panels of 300 series are produced in seven different formats. Control panels with 24/48 and 48/96 channels with hand control are oriented on small studios. Usually they are connected to the most common monitor. It is inexpensive and really comfortable at work. For big studios control panels with 120 sub-masters and 600 channels, with build-in LCD display, and full color support are assigned. Such control panels are capable of controlling big number of automated luminariers, what is necessary when filming in the studio shows or analogous relatively difficult performance filming. The appearance of control panel's keyboard reminds notebook of bigger size and in some processing modules is done in steel body for rack mount. The following decision of adapting to the tour work is declared, compact and protection from mechanical damage is very high. However not only the form disposes to using this console in the tour. The keyboard of the control panel is waterproof and runners have protection compressors what excludes dust and garbage getting inside. Besides everything, starting form build-in LCD display to the last button is highlighted and each functional group has its own light. As to program opportunities, the control panel is capable to saturate very big demands. All control panels use the well-known GeniusPro and Lightpalette operation systems. The main difference between these systems is that the first is build on the principle of preliminary setting, i.e. in the memory of the control panel each scene is stored as separate element. The second is build on the tracing principle, that means that the first scene is stored with all the necessary parameters and for the further only changes from the previous one are stored. Controller 310 fully maintains the operation of control panels of 300 series in the ShowNet network and using of SMPTE, MIDI and Show Control protocols.

520i control console

Fast, powerful and also simple in control panels of 500 series provide wide opportunities of light program control. They maintain up to 6000 control channels and 2000 attributes. 3000 macrocodes provide wide programming opportunities. Reach facility control libraries, 750 groups and such functions as "automatical movement in the dark" significantly simplify the process of control under the automated projectors and allow providing the studio light show of any complexity without problems.

R120 transmittingconsole

Professional hand control panels of light control appeared on the market of light techniques not so long ago. They significantly enlarge creative opportunities of light designers, by providing control of channels, dimmers, scenes, groups, sub-masters and periods of transfers. Actually they double the main control panels and can be used as operative reserve.

Portable hand control panels can be of two modifications: control panels with control cable and wireless, which use the radio signal for transfer of control signal. The length of cable is up to 20 m. To the first category belongs portable designer's control panels and remote control panel R120. To the second belongs iPaq control panel with colored LCD display.

Transmitting console iPac with control signal receiver DMX-512

Advantage of iPaq becomes obvious from the first minutes of using that facility. Actually, it is a portable computer, adapter for operation with special light system. Programming of light control system when using iPaq is intuitively simple and visual. Operating with it allows saving the time of preparation of luminariers to filming. Radio signal of iPaq control panel gets to the receiving facility, then to the network unit, after that to the dimmer or other executive facilities.

As it is known, none decent TV or film studio can deal without dimmers. Strand Lighting producers a row of dimmers for almost all of the requirements of big and large studios.

Reliable and simple single dimmer CD80 provides local light regulation in wide using diapason. There are produced dimmers of 2,4...24 kW power, all of the models are equipped with high-quality outlet throttles, which provide lowered noise level while operating. All single CD80 dimmers operate with analogous and digital (DMX) control and are equipped with build-in hand regulator.

ACT6+ dimming modules

Dimmer blocks ACT 6+ are controlled by both analogous and digital signal. Blocks are assigned for setting on the wall or in 19" body. Nine build-in effects and eight recording light settings can control all dimmers. Power of the facilities of all versions is done from one-phase and/or three-phased mains. Blocks ACT 6+ can be connected one after another. So the amount of DMX channels sums up. That is relatively comfortable when it is not known in advance what quantity of channels is required. Such equipment is good for temporary and small light systems.

As computer techniques develop very fast Strand lighting constantly improves the element base of portable dimmers. To change the ACT6+ dimmers came more perfect SD6. The new processor and new software increased the operation speed of the dimmer and enlarged its functional opportunities. Besides it became lighter and more attractive in its design.

Wall mounted LD90 dimmer racks

Wall dimmer bodies LD90 and DE90 were developed especially for application in limited space. They provide wide opportunity diapason, including 99 light settings, SWC, operating with Outlook, 24 analogous entries and DMX entry. In the body can be set up to 24 dimmers by 2.5 kW or 12 dimmers by 5 kW. Due to the soundless operation because of ventilators absence it happened to be possible to set LD90 and DE90 dimmers direct6ly in studio, what was made, for example, on M1 channel. In these dimmers it is also possible to set facility of protection shutting down and connecting to them hand burner of SWC system, with the help of which it is possible to record and recall up to 99 light setting that are stored in processor of the body. So hand burner SWC can be used as powerful light control system or as a reserved control facility independent from the main control panel.

SLD dimmer

New universal dimmer body SLD is the flagman of Strand Lighting dimmer systems. It is main advantage is fully digitized electronics, high-quality element base and function of report about each dimmer condition. The body operates in diapason of 90...277 V voltage. In the body up to 96 dimmers accounted for the current of 15, 20 or 25 A or 48 dimmers of 50 A each can be set. SLD96, except for the unit for Shownet Ethernet connection is equipped with two DMX-512 entries, twelve analogous entries, cutoff points for connection of control system of interior Outlook light and SWC control station, which allows creating and controlling 99 light settings with individual transfer time periods.

System is developed with considering of application in projects of different difficulty, and that couldn't tell upon its construction. Now the entry of power cables can done on the top as well as on the bottom of the body, the access to the areas of cables connection is maximum simplified, the setting of operation conditions is simplified, and for the simplicity of power bussing through the bodies the bus module is used.

Dimmer modules and processor are removable, what allows approaching the task decision most flexibly and provides the service simplicity. In modules the fully magnetic protection automates are used and also the setting of protection automates against leakage to land and automates with locking the midpoint wire is possible. All dimmers are equipped with high-quality filters with time constant of 220...400 mcsec and report system about its condition for the control panels of 300 and 500 series. For switching of different loads the double contactor on 20 A, which is also equipped with report system is assigned.

Hand-held programmer of the SWC system

Quality of any dimmer system first of all is determined by the accuracy of settled voltage support. That is why SLD processor uses the new method of analysis of power voltage, which allows almost instantly correcting its changes and disturbance. The last executive facility in the Ethernet+DMX system is automated drives and different light technique facilities of the Strand Lightning Company production. They are assigned for providing of operation the smallest and simplest as well as large contemporary studios.

"DSL" Joint-Stock Company, "Innkoopto" Company.

next >>