Generic or Conventional

[David A]

I am increasingly noticing people referring to movers and generics now my understanding of generic' is manufactured as a copy by a Chinese company' [not a literal definition, but a practical one] So could we revert to conventional for theatre lights and generic for cheaper copies of other equipment, that way we can have generic movers and generic conventionals and wouldn't have to read a piece 3 times to find out which the writer means

[Chris Beesley]

For me its normally Generics for the traditional lanterns (Cantata, Sils, S4's etc) or Movers for ... er... Movers!

[mac.calder]

Generic - relating to or common to or descriptive of all members of a genus; "the generic name"

 

So "Fresnel" is a generic term for lanterns with a fresnel lense etc. So by using the term "generic lanterns/fixtures/whatever", we are implying that we are talking about lanterns 'without the bells and whistles' - ie don't move, change colours etc. They just conform to the base standard that makes them theatrical lanterns.

 

All movers are loosely based on a generic lantern specification - washes are often fresnels and the spots are either profiles or zoom profiles, however they are far from "Generic" - they contain many features outside of the base (generic) specification. So by saying generics, we are basically saying we are using "base" lanterns. Technically correct.

 

Conventional is just as apt a term.

 

I have never taken generic to mean "a cheap Chinese copy" - that would be a clone, or a P.O.S. (and I don't mean Point of Sale) - as that is not what generic means.

 

Personally, I don't think it matters. The words are only used to get a point across, and if the masses know and understand what both terms mean, then there is no problem.

[Ike]

No. :D

 

Generic can indeed mean non manufacturer specific (but not necessarily cheap) but then again there are a number of non-moveres that aren't exactly conventional designs.

 

If I had to pick one it would defiantly be conventional although I do feel its a bit of a put down to manufacturers of non-movers who have come up with innovative designs.

 

Damn beaten to it!

[JimWebber]

Generic - relating to or common to or descriptive of all members of a genus; "the generic name"

 

... So by saying generics, we are basically saying we are using "base" lanterns. Technically correct.

 

Conventional is just as apt a term.

 

I have never taken generic to mean "a cheap Chinese copy" - that would be a clone, or a P.O.S. (and I don't mean Point of Sale) - as that is not what generic means...

 

Fully Agree with that, I realise P.O.S doesn't stand for Point of sale, but whilst typing this I've just realised what it does stand for....

 

Jim

[Neil Hampson]

Agreeing with most others, My understanding would be for example a 'generic 1Kw fresnel' on a plan can be whatever 1Kw fresnel that I have in the rig, as opposed to use a 'Strand Cantata F'

You could not apply the same logic to moving lights, can you imagine recieving a tech spec that stated, '10 movers on Lx1' they could be disco lights or Mac 600s

[Ken Coker]

Steam lantern

 

Mover

 

 

KC

[WiLL]

indeed. Generic means 'of it's genus'. Not 'cheap knock off copy.

[paulears]

Maybe the problem is just David's part of the world. It does look like everyone else is quite happy with the use of the term 'generic' - certainly David's interpretation is one I've never, ever come accross. Thank God we didn't do a daft poll!

[Jamtastic3]

"So these are your moving lights, and those are your generics"

 

Enough said

[niclights]

^ exactly.

 

Generics.

[David A]

Generic - relating to or common to or descriptive of all members of a genus; "the generic name"

 

.

 

Personally, I don't think it matters. The words are only used to get a point across, and if the masses know and understand what both terms mean, then there is no problem.

By your definition all movers have common features, they all move and are more sophisticated than conventional lights and are therefore generics. 'As to the masses understanding ' ,if someone wrote in about a generic light he or she would soon be told to be more specific, as other contributors have shown there is a large number of meanings for 'generic' but a far more limited meaning for 'conventional' As the words we use are there to convey information and reduce confusion 'conventional' is the more useful term.

[Andrew C]

How about; "lanterns" and "those noisy, broken things".

[mac.calder]

Generic - relating to or common to or descriptive of all members of a genus; "the generic name"

 

.

 

Personally, I don't think it matters. The words are only used to get a point across, and if the masses know and understand what both terms mean, then there is no problem.

By your definition all movers have common features, they all move and are more sophisticated than conventional lights and are therefore generics.

 

Sure, but remember - They are Moving Lights, and Generic Lanterns (or lights) - we just drop the last word due to lazyness, it is still implied however. Movers is a generic term for the class of lights, but they are well beyond generic 'lights'. If we were to use your logic, then movers are also conventional - because conventionally, a moving light will move ;-P

 

 

'As to the masses understanding ' ,if someone wrote in about a generic light he or she would soon be told to be more specific, as other contributors have shown there is a large number of meanings for 'generic' but a far more limited meaning for 'conventional' As the words we use are there to convey information and reduce confusion 'conventional' is the more useful term.

 

I wish to set a challenge. Find or write a post where generic and conventional cannot be used interchangeably. I think you will be hard pressed - unless this post was posted outside of the Lighting forum, in which case, conventional will still result in a request for clarrification.

 

If you said "I have 35 generics, can I do X effect", of course you will be asked for clarrification - just as you would if someone asked "I have 35 conventional lights, can I do X effect".

[niclights]

Or perhaps you could argue that 'moving fixtures', as technology progresses, become 'conventional'?

 

I don't think either is right or wrong, but I rarely here the word 'conventional' used.

 

How about; "lanterns" and "those noisy, broken things".

 

;) :) I was originally goint to say 'nodding buckets' but this description is far more accurate...