Using ETCs new Console the Gio

Using the Gio

So the Gio is the Mid range Console in its Eos family(that is to say it uses the Eos control software) Since I am already familiar with the Ion, I had no problem Adapting to the Gio, as the program is basically the same its just the Gio is a more advanced desk compared to the Ion.

The desk itself has some Nifty features that while some are cosmetic are very useful.  First off the back lit keys are perhaps my favorite cosmetic little feature. Now it doesn’t seem like much, but this is the first console I have ever used that has back lit keys, and not having to struggle in the dark while programming a show is kind of amazing. The Encoder wheels for moving light control have dynamic resistance, which means when you are switching between gobos it will click, and when you are panning or tilting the wheels will move more fluidly. You can change the level of the touch screens, so if necessary you can flatten the whole console, which is very convenient for transporting and since everything you need to make the show go is attached to the console itself it makes it a very good portable console, if you are working on a touring show or concert. The console also has 10 motorized faders that can be assigned to whatever you want them to be.  

Another awesome feature with the Gio, on the Desk in-between the two monitors there are 6 programmable buttons that can do what every you want them to (we turned ours in to a channel check and moving light check)

So enough about the bells and whistles on the desk itself lets talk about the Eos software. So we were working on the big musical production of the semester when we were given this board, the show was a very cue heavy show with a few effects. Normaly to do these shows we have a hog 3 a good console for programming musicals and concerts, but you kind of need to be a computer programmer to understand how to make it do useful things.

This is not the case with the Eos software.  This program is so simple to use that virtually anyone with little training could program a simple show.  However a musical with about 400 cues isn’t a simple show.  Still anything I needed to do (referencing multiple cue lists, part cues, etc,) was still relatively easy to figure out, if I didn’t know how to do it already.  Also using the Gio many of the useful commands are already buttons on the console, so that cut down my programming time significantly.

The only issue I have with the Gio and the Eos software is the effects engine.  I find that to make it work properly is far too time consuming and its just easier to build multiple cue lists.  

FYF

So i got to go to FYF again this year, and I must say i was prety pleased with the lineup.
But again i was super disappointed with the lighting.
They got a company called visions to do the stage and lights. now the set up they had on the stages was somthing awesome.  at least 20 moving lights per stage and about 20 led pars per stage.
but the people who ran the show were just lazy as shit.
I was watching yhat on the small stage and this is how it went

 The first thing that bugged me was the lights were all over the screen. secondly the bands theme was black and white and he was just throwing up stupid color chases. oh and all the lights were pretty much doing the same thing.
this i think was probably the worst stage to watch.
the other three stages were a bit better but not by much

although this moment was kind of magical
It wasnt untill Simian mobile disco hit the stage with their own lighting designer that i was really wowed by what i saw

Yeah, the guy they had has clearly worked with them before as he had a good feel for the whole performance, and made changes with the music, as opposed to Randomly
So in short FYF great show cool new music, but terrible lights

Peter pan 360

we went to See peter pan 360 on Tuesday.
i was realy looking forward to this production, not only because i love the story and im a big kid at heart, but because the show was done in the round with projections projecting on to a 360 degree surface above the audience. content wise the projections were a bit childish, but its to be expected since the target audience is kids.
the video was used to basically be the stage, and there were 4 backdrops, there was the nursery, the pirate ship, the forest and the lagoon. and the video would change sometimes depending on the scene. for example when peter and the kids first fly off leaving the nursery the projections become a flying tour of london, while the actors are raised in to the air.
there were about 10 or 12 barco 10000 lumen projectors at the base of the stage creating the interactive video.

one thing i found very impressive was the lighting designers use of mirrors. since the only good place to hang moving lights was at the top of the circus tent. this would make most low angle shots impossible, but what he did was put mirrors around the outer circle of the tent. therefore he was able to make almost any shot possible, despite having a limited hanging position.