Advice on positioning of scanners for permanent rig

[richardc1983]

OK im putting final touches to my lighting rig that is permanently up in the same place.

 

It is about 2.5 metres in length and spread out evenly across that length is 4 scanners.

 

2 are discharge 2 are halogen, both the same model though just different bulb types.

 

They are programmed via a DMX controller all running and addressed at FIXTURE 1.

 

This means they all do the same. Now when I had just two scanners I had each scanner do a different thing by having one of the scanners inverted the opposite way upto the other so that when one scanner went left the other scanner went right.

 

TO invert my scanners you have to physically invert the scanner so the mirror is pointing up from the bottom, so you turn it up the other way.

 

The advice I want is how would you position these out, the rig is mounted between a bay window so no option to have scanners on the other side of the room.

 

Im going to have 2 inverted ones, I was thinking of having one halogen and one discharge on each side.

 

Now where would you have the inverted ones, would you have them next to each other or would you have it like this.

 

1. DISCHARGE (NORMAL) - HALOGEN (INVERTED) - DISCHARGE (NORMAL) - HALOGEN (INVERTED)

 

OR

 

2. DISCHARGE (NORMAL) - HALOGEN (NORMAL) - DISCHARGE (INVERTED) - HALOGEN (INVERTED)

 

Or would you do it differently???

 

Seems an odd question but what im thinking is that if they are laid out as the first layout above then when the beam from the normal one goes left the inverted one will cross paths wont it and I think it will look a mess.

 

Whereas if I do it as number 2 layout the beams will not cross over but there will be 2 beams going the same way on each side of the rig.

 

Do you get me?

[CPlater1]

personally I would put two the same inverted in the middle if I were to do it that way. Another possibility that you may have considered is this: if your controller has enough channels, could you give each fixture its own address and patch on the controller to put all of them together. This way you can have each fixture doing individual things, or have them all doing the same. This way may take a while to get good results, but it can save having to readdress fixtures if/when the need arises. Also be sure that your scanners can be mounted the other way up without damaging anything.

[benweblight]

Can you not just try out some different setups? Wouldn't take too long surely.

[richardc1983]

Yes im going to try perhaps you lot thought of something that I havent though.

[paulears]

You've got four scans, all in the same plane, on a shortish bar, all doing the same movements. Surely it's independent movement that's wanted - with this setup, you can't actually do much with it, can you. not even opposing sweeps, or different colours.

[norty303]

if your controller has enough channels, could you give each fixture its own address and patch on the controller to put all of them together.

 

The OP bought a controller that was already pre-programmed, to avoid having to learn how to use it, so I suspect your suggestion won't be suitable. Having them all the same way up, with a common pair at each end would be my choice, on different channels to allow all to move together, or opposite to each other as the need dictates.

[richardc1983]

Actually I have learnt how to use.

 

Ive completly reprogrammed it and spent the last few weeks getting used to it.

 

SO yes I should have taken your advice first time round one of those lessons learnt but the important thing is that im willing to learn so that good, except on this occasion ive only managed to programme all scenes as the same movments colour.

 

THe ideal solution here is 2 scans going in different directions, the quick way as I progress I will get round to having different colours etc.

[Trunker]

You can invert the scanners by using the DMX dips on the unit. simply put half the units on 1 and the other half of the units on 9. Or are your scanners not DMX (obviously they have to be linked).

[mark_s]

As a quick point I'd put two of the same units in the middle. Ie:

Discharge | Halogen | Halogen | Discharge

 

I'm a fan of being symmetrical in such cases - to me it just looks more 'balanced'.

[richardc1983]

I agree mark

 

Well I might try putting 2 of them on address 9 but is this the same for all manufacturers as mine are Geni Mojo Scans and there is nothign in the book about inverting them.

[Trunker]

I agree mark

 

Well I might try putting 2 of them on address 9 but is this the same for all manufacturers as mine are Geni Mojo Scans and there is nothign in the book about inverting them.

 

It should work as it is standard DMX protocol. It works with the following anyhow:

 

Abstract

Martin

Acme

Prolight

I-Solution

 

The books for none of these tells you about it either but I was told about this years ago in my mobile dj days

 

P.S. don't forget that the other 2 MUST be on channel 1 other wise it may not work

[norty303]

Just to clarify, this is NOT a standard feature of DMX. If you try that on some Martin heads you get a completely different mode of operation. It is completely dependent on whether the manufacturer has included the feature.

 

Perhaps now might be the time to learn to program with all 4 heads on different channels to get the desired effect. I know that all of my learning has been borne out of neccessity.

[Ynot]

Hmmm...

As far as I can say, every DMX scanner/mover I've used has had a 'swap pan/swap tilt' dip switch, or a programmable otion (certainly every Mac I've used) as standard. Wouldn't necessarily say it's 'standard DMX' but a basic function nonetheless, purely because of the situation being discussed...

[Trunker]

;)

Hmmm...

As far as I can say, every DMX scanner/mover I've used has had a 'swap pan/swap tilt' dip switch, or a programmable otion (certainly every Mac I've used) as standard. Wouldn't necessarily say it's 'standard DMX' but a basic function nonetheless, purely because of the situation being discussed...

 

Sorry my mistake. Shouldn't go listening to guys in disco shops when you are in your youth then because it seems like they will tell you anything.

[MarkPAman]

Look in the manual of your controller for "Reverse DMX channel" (It's page 47 of mine, but this unit has many different badges on it so YMMV). Set 2 of the units to pan in the opposite direction.

 

Then all 4 units can be addressed individually. Then select all four when you program if you want them to do the same thing but, with two of them panning the opposite way to the others. This should work regardless of what the fixture is.