By Richard Cadena
I’ve been in the industry long enough to have seen lighting control go from 0-10V to DMX to DMX-over-Ethernet.
When I started, the bigger your lighting console was, the more important you were. Over time, things evolved to the point where most people just wanted it to fit on a cart or in the overhead locker. What didn’t change is the one-size-fits-all approach; it doesn’t matter if you’re working in theatre, concert touring, or in motion picture or TV production, the same lighting consoles are used in any situation.
But form factor matters. In theatre or concert production, the lighting console is locked down at the front of house where the programmer has a prime view of the stage. When you’re making a movie or shooting TV, you’re much more likely to want to move around the set or from set-to-set or stage-to-stage. So, why would you want a lighting console that is designed to be planted like
a tree? Why not use one that you can carry in your backpack or hold in your hands as you walk around? How about one that works on your iPad?
Read the full review at: Lighting and Sound International
