General Information...
Generic fixtures are fixtures that normally use halogen bulbs as a light source where as LED fixtures use LEDs, due to the fact they use halogen lamps they tend to need a lot more power than LED fixtures and therefore are powered through dimmer packs. A single cable is run from the fixture to the dimmer where it is plugged into a 15 amp socket; each pair of sockets on the dimmer pack corresponds to 1 DMX channel. This allows you to control it from any control console as long as you have patched it in correctly. Bear in mind you will also need to set a start address on the dimmer pack.
If the last two sentences of that paragraph made no sense then this should help. Patching a fixture is telling the control desk that you have a fixture assigned to a certain set of channels and as such the desk will know which attributes it can control and ensure that it sends a DMX signal down the correct channel for each attribute. On a Generic Fixture the only controllable attribute is intensity and therefore you will only need to patch in to the desk 1 channel of control for each fixture. This will usually be categorised in the patch bay as a 'Generic Fixture'. It is important that you ensure to patch all of your fixtures in otherwise you will not be able to control them. With intellegant lighting patching a fixture will use up more channels as there are more controllable attributes.
Assigning your fixtures a start address is also very important. A start address is effectively the first DMX channel that you intend to use to control the fixture and it is important that the start address on the fixture is also the start address in the patch bay. This effectively means that when patching in fixtures the address you select to patch them to, is going to be the start address for the fixture. You can change the start address by going into the menu of the fixture and finding the setting usually categorised as 'DMX', you should then press ENTER and select the value you want, most fixtures will have a memory function so you will not need to address them each time they are powered on. An alternate way is to use DMX dip switches which many older or smaller fixtures will use.
Some common generic fixtures include the Par 64, ETC source 4's - and other profiles and fresnels. It is important to bear in mind that each type of fixture has its own function, but they can be applied in a number of ways.
As generic fixtures use a single lamp - usually halogen - their colour can be changed by adding a gel in front of the lantern; you can also add gobos to create further effects.
Generic fixtures can get very hot and their lamps will eventually blow but these can be replaced easily; when changing the lamp be sure to not touch the glass as oil from your fingertips can be transferred to the lamp and when it is switch on it may explode.
If the last two sentences of that paragraph made no sense then this should help. Patching a fixture is telling the control desk that you have a fixture assigned to a certain set of channels and as such the desk will know which attributes it can control and ensure that it sends a DMX signal down the correct channel for each attribute. On a Generic Fixture the only controllable attribute is intensity and therefore you will only need to patch in to the desk 1 channel of control for each fixture. This will usually be categorised in the patch bay as a 'Generic Fixture'. It is important that you ensure to patch all of your fixtures in otherwise you will not be able to control them. With intellegant lighting patching a fixture will use up more channels as there are more controllable attributes.
Assigning your fixtures a start address is also very important. A start address is effectively the first DMX channel that you intend to use to control the fixture and it is important that the start address on the fixture is also the start address in the patch bay. This effectively means that when patching in fixtures the address you select to patch them to, is going to be the start address for the fixture. You can change the start address by going into the menu of the fixture and finding the setting usually categorised as 'DMX', you should then press ENTER and select the value you want, most fixtures will have a memory function so you will not need to address them each time they are powered on. An alternate way is to use DMX dip switches which many older or smaller fixtures will use.
Some common generic fixtures include the Par 64, ETC source 4's - and other profiles and fresnels. It is important to bear in mind that each type of fixture has its own function, but they can be applied in a number of ways.
As generic fixtures use a single lamp - usually halogen - their colour can be changed by adding a gel in front of the lantern; you can also add gobos to create further effects.
Generic fixtures can get very hot and their lamps will eventually blow but these can be replaced easily; when changing the lamp be sure to not touch the glass as oil from your fingertips can be transferred to the lamp and when it is switch on it may explode.
What Light should I use?
Source FourMain Use: Spotlight on position or band member
Why: Use of zoom lens allows for a bright narrow beam allowing the spot to keep its shape Bulb: Up to 1KW Varieties: Source 4 Mini Difference: size and power of beam plus zoom capability Par 64Main Use: Wash on stage or large spots
Why: Bright bulb allows for generalised wash in a small area rather than large area like a Fresnal Bulb: Up to 1KW Varieties: Par 56, Par 46, Par 38, Par 36, Par 30, Par 20, Par 16 (Birdie) [Long and short nose of each] Difference: Size of bulb |
FresnalMain Use: General wash of stage
Why: Easy to use barn doors allow the wash to be directed across certain areas Bulb: Up to 1KW Varieties: N/A Difference: N/A FloodMain Use: Flooding stage with light
Why: Large surface area of bulb allows for high light dispersion rate Bulb: N/A Varieties: Many Differences: Size of reflector |