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Precision and Artistry – Automated Spot Lights that Inspire!
By: Paul Braile – www.lightinginspirations.net
The job description was clear and simple. Install a “State of the Art” spot light system that will insure precise follow spot cueing and maintain artistry throughout the entire House of Worship. The Autopilot-2 system, built by Wybron, answered the call. It is an efficient system that allows full optimization of a lighting rig – it is the only choice for “synchronized” automated follow spots.
Background:
It was three years before load in when I received my first call from Russell Kollaja, Lighting Designer at Trinity Fellowship Church in Amarillo, Texas. He asked about the Autopilot-2 system, a powerful automated follow spot system that they were interested in utilizing for their newly constructed facility. During that initial conversation we determined that Autopilot was a solid and viable solution that met the requirements for follow spots in their House of Worship which features 4000 seats, a 46 foot stage in the round, 4 large projection screens and 8 television cameras. The church is truly remarkable so it was only fitting to ensure its theatrical lighting system -- comprised of almost 200 automated lights – complemented the aesthetics of the entire facility.
About Autopilot:
The Autopilot system is the world’s most powerful automated follow spot system that enables up to 60 automated lights to become instant automated follow spot lights that will track in three dimensional space, in real time, in a coverage area up to 2400 square feet (if spot light coverage beyond 2400 square feet is required, Autopilot can accommodate by installing multiple systems linked together in a “daisy-chain” configuration). The system relies on satellite receivers, which are bi-directional communication, to send out infrared at a 140 degree angle to the coverage area or stage with a maximum throw distance of 75 feet. Wireless belt packs are used to transmit an ultrasonic signal, 39 – 41 KHz, back to the Autopilot processor via the satellite receivers.
“Thunder and Lightning”. When you see a bolt of lightning you usually don’t hear the thunder until a few seconds later. Autopilot works in the same fashion. The Autopilot processor sends the command for infrared to emit out of the satellite receivers (the “lightning”) and waits to hear the ultrasonic signal return (the “thunder”) from the belt packs. Autopilot then takes that time and calculates math to determine the best usable equation to triangulate and track that belt pack or multiple belt packs simultaneously. This process is repeated many times per second using major system components that include 1 processor, 8 satellite receivers, 4 wireless belt packs, 1 temperature sensor and all necessary 7-Pin XLR cable. Since temperature can affect the speed of sound, a temperature sensor is used so that Autopilot can update itself and maintain accurate spot light coverage to the belt packs. The system works with any automated fixture and lighting consoles that are DMX 512 compatible. Not all automated fixtures are the same therefore it is highly recommended that you engage a qualified Lighting Professional regarding fixture performance. The Autopilot fixture library is quite large but not all fixtures have profiles written specifically for Autopilot; again, it is important to consult with a qualified Lighting Professional to assist you with the writing of a profile for your fixture if you do not have one.
Planning the System Set Up:
After ongoing consultation with the folks at Trinity Fellowship Church and a complete system demo of Autopilot-2, we moved forward to design Autopilot into the Church’s theatrical lighting rig. In other words, we had to plan the system set up. This is an extremely important step in utilizing Autopilot as it helps to eliminate potential concerns down the road. This step includes communicating with other technical departments, Pastors, Performers, Directors and Stage Managers. For example, the Audio Technician should know about the Autopilot belt pack frequencies; Directors and Stage Managers should know about the belt pack placement; Pastors and Performers should know that they will need to wear a belt pack for lighting.
Another important step that takes place during the set-up process is to “Define your Coverage Area”. This step identifies the locations for spotlight coverage and placement of the hanging positions for the receivers. Autopilot requires clear “Line of Sight” between all receivers and the belt pack elements. This is very simple to achieve but very important to discuss in the early planning stages. One major concern for Trinity Fellowship Church was to make certain that all sight lines from projectors to the 4 large projection screens remain clear. This also included the hanging positions for the automated lights on Autopilot control. The challenge was to design and install the entire automated follow spot system to provide complete spot light coverage within the “Defined Coverage Area” and maintain “Visual Aesthetics” within the entire House of Worship. By making educated decisions, maintaining ongoing consultation and advance planning of the system set-up, we were able to successfully address the church’s concerns.
The Load-In Process:
Fast forward to load in. After reviewing notes from the set-up discussions, the light plot, spot light assignments and general blocking notes, a “hang assignment” was created for eight Autopilot satellite receivers. When I arrived at Trinity Fellowship Church for the load-in, the technical team had completed a “pre-hang” for the receivers. My job as the Autopilot Programmer/Designer/Consultant was to then review the hang assignment, make minor adjustments, update the light plot to reflect receiver adjustments and then begin to calibrate the system and its 20 automated lights, transforming them into automated follow spots.
The Design & Programming Process:
After the system was calibrated, the contracted Lighting Designers (Dennis Size and Niel Galen) and Lighting Programmer (Trevor Gooch) began the job of writing Autopilot into the lighting cues. This process was simple and painless. The entire lighting rig was partitioned into multiple lighting systems with each system assigned a purpose that included a stage wash, stage specials, audience wash, ceiling wash, architectural wash and spot lights. Autopilot was the perfect solution for the spot light system because it allowed theatrical lighting looks while keeping the Pastor and Performers evenly lit with television-quality lighting. Rather than wash the entire stage with no-color light, Autopilot enabled incredible and powerful theatrical looks that were ready for broadcast.
“There are several benefits to Autopilot in any situation, for us we can utilize our moving lights to follow the Pastor on the stage and not have to buy large follow spots which can be much more noisy then moving lights. The Autopilot gives us the flexibility to provide us with a theatrical stage look and give us key light that is needed for a high quality camera shot. Autopilot has allowed us to do more at a concert then any follow spot would. I can add more lights to Autopilot and be able to follow a person from many angles and still be able to concentrate on the light board rather than calling follow spot cues”. Russell Kollaja – Trinity Fellowship Church
To write Autopilot into a show file the Programmer must simply add intensity levels to control channels that are patched in both the lighting console and Autopilot. For example, an automated light may have a control channel of (1) and an Autopilot control channel of (101). To engage Autopilot to track light (1) on a belt pack, the Programmer would add a value to the Autopilot control channel, (101). Channel (101) at (0) disengages Autopilot and the Programmer has complete control over light (1). (101) at 25% engages Autopilot to track light (1) on to belt pack #1. (101) at 50% tracks the light to belt pack #2, (101) at 75% tracks to belt pack #3 and (101) at 100% tracks the light to belt pack #4. The Programmer can assign automated lights to track a belt pack or multiple belt packs simultaneously in groups or each light individually and store the control channel values in cues. At Trinity Fellowship Church, the control channels were written into show cues but separated from the intensity for the lights and placed into separate faders on the lighting console. It is important to remember that Trinity’s stage is in the round so this method provided the ability to manually change the lights’ intensity as needed during a service. With respect to a stage in the round, it is a wise idea to use this type of set up since lights may change their purpose as the Pastor walks around the stage (for example, lights that are front keys will change their purpose to become back or fill lights). The set up described above provides the opportunity to change intensity levels live while Autopilot remains fully engaged.
“I like it! Having the freedom to track artists is wonderful! It’d be nice to travel with a package, if I could have one surgically implanted. Josh Fieldhouse – Lighting Engineer for Michael W. Smith
Recap:
In closing, the importance and benefits of the entire consultation process – from the initial phone inquiry three years prior to load in, to the ongoing service and training commitment after the installation -- cannot be underestimated. With Trinity Fellowship Church, a strong business relationship was developed between the Lighting Consultants/Designers, the Technical Director and the Church’s Lighting Designer. The relationship was based on shared knowledge, experience and trust. As demonstrated by Trinity Fellowship, this relationship lead to the use of Autopilot, an ideal solution for Houses of Worship and the perfect solution to bridge the gap between lighting for broadcast television and lighting for saturation and theatrical applications since it enables you to have theatrical lighting, saturation and broadcast quality lighting on the same stage at the same time. In the end, the Consultants and the church’s technical team identified a powerful solution that addressed their current needs, maximized the efficiency of their lighting system, and heightened the precision and artistry of their lighting designs.
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