Has there ever been so many top-end lighting control consoles on the market? (Not that I can remember). It looks like any approach to lighting should have been tried already. But then a new product comes out that makes you say “why did not someone think of the way before?” This is the case with the timeline cueing approach incorporated in JAND ‘new Vista-control console. If you are unfamiliar with JAND (www.jands.com), they are a great hire, installation, distribution and manufacturing concern in Australia. I’ve always known them as Vari-Lite people Down Under – and they still are. JAND has developed a lighting control console that uses a pen-based interface along with a timetable for cueing information. If you’ve ever seen or used Digidesign’s ProTools ®, Avid Media Composer ® or Apple Final Cut Pro ®, then you’re already familiar timeline interface. As I’ve said before, I think this approach would be great for managing digital media servers, automated and conventional fixtures.
JAND has also integrated a concept called “tripod abstraction.” What this means is that the console ‘think’ automatic lights in the shape of their parameters – pan, tilt, color, focus, damping, gobo, zoom, etc. and save them as “abstract” values ??during programming, regardless of fixture type, is used. They are not tied to one type of automatic light. JAND identified the parameters of the most popular furniture in great detail. Vista’s “abstracted parameters” that are stored during programming can then be applied to any automated light is used, with the console adjust for differences between the luminaire are differences in parameters and DMX scaling of these parameters. Basically it means that you can program with automatic lighting from manufacturer A, and then apply this programming for a system of manufacturer B fixtures – mostly. You will always have to make choices about what to do when you program with a faucet that may not have all the features of light you need today, but it’s better than reprogramming your show from scratch. It is a huge timesaver.
I was fortunate to talk with David Mulholland, Director of Development for the Vista project. During the obligatory discussion of beer (he had read my Maxedia article in last month where we discussed Belgian ales, so he knew what to expect), David suggested that I need to know about Coopers Sparkling Ale and James Boag (takes note if you’re traveling Down Under). I certainly look forward to visit Australia one day and sample these fine brews. I hear they like Texans down there too ….
We have finally managed to discuss lighting consoles and Vista in particular. I first asked what gave JAND idea for the timeline approach. David said: “Our original idea for Vista was to make a console that would eliminate a lot of hack work that was involved in programming. We saw the timing as an area where users often spent long periods of time to get things to see right, and often had to spend just as long if they wanted to make even minor changes. Timeline approach has been used for many years in audio and video applications as well as some laser control systems and even a couple of early lighting consoles. When we began to experiment with this approach, we are immediately aware of how strong it would be for lighting control. Being able to see what happens over time, it means that programmers can focus on what happens in a transition period rather than just at the start and end point on a cue. It’s also nice to be able to shuttle backwards and forwards in the timeline, and to stretch or compress events to fit a timing change. ”
I asked, “Since the industry loves touchscreens as much (or at least they’re used to them), do you think people will adapt to pen computing, and why?” David said: “For our first prototype we used a touchscreen, but found that it just was not accurate enough to gain control we wanted. For a while it looked like a big problem and we thought of changing the entire user interface. So we began to talk with Wacom, and their Australian people provided us with a 15 “Cintiq unit to experiment with. Our R & D team and product focus group was blown away by the quality of the LCD and the accuracy of the pen, and everyone who tried the device wanted to take it home. We have also noticed that a lot of people find it difficult to make selections on the touch-screens and use a rubber tipped pointer or stylus to avoid the “fat fingers” problem.So in a way. Switches to a pen tablet is not a big leap And when people get used to the fact that you can rest your hand on the screen without accidentally activating something they find it very comfortable to use. The pen gives quite a few options:
A – The tip is used to pointing and clicking (pressing)
B – There are two switches that can be used to right-click, etc.
C – The opposite end of the pen is an ‘eraser’
“In Vista, you can use the stylus switch to access the” right click “menu, where appropriate, and although we have not implemented the pen eraser but we have plans to do so. This will mean that for example, can operator to use the eraser to clear programming. “I asked David what happens if you lose the stylus. He replied: “Everybody asks that! We have a built-in touchpad – similar to what is found on many laptops. You can also connect a USB mouse or have extra pens in the armrest.”
We discussed the Ethernet network during installation and tracking backups, as well as offline editing software for Vista. David says, “Currently we do not support networking for multi-user operation and it is not high on our priority list at the moment. But we are looking at smaller units with less programming and playback hardware. Indeed, we showed a wing and a mini-console is designed to operate with an external PC and monitor at the last Plasa show in London. As for offline editing, we already have a PC version that can be used as an offline editor. Adding a dongle makes DMX outputs, so it is possible to run a show from a PC. We also hope to get a Mac version out very quickly, something that not too many people who offer right now. ”
I wanted to know how JAND planned on handling pre-visualization in Vista. David said: “Our struggle Display icons show the intensity, color, position and gobo data. But we do not have a full-blown Visualize built in yet. But JAND is a registered WYSIWYG Developer, and Vista can communicate directly to a PC runningWYSIWYG via Ethernet. ”
I asked about how Vista handles more than four universes of DMX, and what is the maximum amount of DMX channels available via Ethernet, without bogging down the console’s processor? David said: “The Vista patch currently supports eight universes – four internal and four more via either Artner or Pathport, the two Ethernet standards that we support. In the test we’ve had 700 taps all running realtime effects without brake console.”
I think the fixture abstraction stuff is cool, but I also know it takes one or more persons to identify all the parameters for all the fixtures to be used to make the system work, a very tedious and time consuming task. David elaborated, “The Vista library is more complicated than most consoles and create a fixture is quite time consuming. But we have an extensive library of popular luminaires and has developed a library editor program that is built into the console. We will also address around a new faucet quickly, and we add to the library all the time. ”
I then asked him the most important question for me – how Vista will handle the digital media servers? Will we see pictures up on the timeline? This is for me an enormously exciting and marketable feature, especially if it is tightly integrated with media server. David was a little coy about this – he says: “Currently, we have not settled on an advanced control method for media servers. But we think the timeline is suitable for a more graphical approach, and we have a number of ideas under development are we drift away from customers and internal testing. We do a lot of production here and the building is full of people with ideas. Unfortunately, it’s a little early to give much detail, but I think you’ll hear more soon after we finish fall exhibition season. ”
The official launch of Vista’s Plasa in London and LDI in Las Vegas. I want JAND people good luck with this exciting new product, and thank them for their cooperation with this article.
