Last week, I had to order a set of ADJ LED fixtures for a show I am working on. Without going into excessive details, this was sprung on me 6 days before the event, so time became a major issue. Performance was on Friday night and I'm being told about it the Saturday before, leaving me with few options. Even worse, I was at a retailer where I could have ordered these, but even so, these were special order items.
Now, for this show, it is part of an ongoing project I see myself involved in for the next few years at least. The lighting design is STILL evolving as the director makes updates and changers her mind based on video from the first performance.
Thankfully, ADJ has profiles for the fixtures I ordered: a single P64 LED UV and 2 Mega Panels. I did need to tweak the MegaPanel profile.
Now, while I wait for the retailer to dink up my order at every opportunity, I was also working with MyDMX and the 3D Visualizer to help see if the changes are working. I get the script Monday, and have the changes done by Wednesday. The lights arrived Thursday and had to go into production Friday.
Outside of tech issues that mysteriously showed up and then left just as mysteriously, the new untested lighting show went FLAWLESSLY with the new lights. Granted, neither fixture was used very much, but that was just because how the scenes were done.
Of course, this is part of the whole purpose of the 3D Visualizer, which is to help you design. There's no reason to not restrict yourself to lights you do or don't have.
In my case, I do have to excercise some restraint. I am planning to purchase some more lights, which will replace the job currently held by other lights. Those OTHER lights will be used to replace STILL other lights. This second batch of lights will be de-commissioned most likely.(I hate those 4). So, due to what would need to be don, I don't want to do the tweaks until I have the lights in hand for sure. Worse case is that I may copy my show and start making the changes. This way, in case something doesn't happen(like money), I have a fail-safe plan already in place.
Another practical application is great for a dual-purpose. Newbies might not have anything, so they need to populate their universe with something, so it's a good way to see what lights can do(within limitations). For others, it's a way to "try before you buy".
OK, go back to having fun with MyDMX. It's great stuff!
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