alex_kyuss Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Hi all, I was working on a gig the other day were neg earth was doing the lighting. one of there crew seemed to be testing the lighting grid by using his mobile phone? I was just wondering how he was doing this? cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmills Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 There are various 'riggers remote on a PDA' type apps, some of which can be run on phones.Also ETC desks have a socket that allows a cordless phone base unit to be plugged in and the phone keypad used as a simple remote. There are numerous ways to do this, but the options do vary a bit depending on exactly what desk was in use. Regards, Dan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.elsbury Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Since you were working with Neg Earth, why not *ask* Neg Earth? ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex_kyuss Posted January 21, 2009 Author Share Posted January 21, 2009 I would of but I was working as local crew I didn't get the chance to have a word with him. I was just interest in a geeky way. cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron-Hill07 Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Might have been avolites, you can use the Iphone/Ipod touch as a 'riggers remote' I believe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tokm Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 What was the tour/gig? Once we know that, its much easier for someone who knows details about the job, to comment! T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niclights Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Might have been avolites, you can use the Iphone/Ipod touch as a 'riggers remote' I believeYou can, but as far as I know it is still in testing. As Dan said, 'riggers remote' facilities via PDA capable devices are available on a number of consoles now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glenn@KC Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 This is such an intriguing aspect in show technology the whole using PDAs in theatres. At the moment I’m looking at running sound cues from a PDA (only in rehearsals) but were will it stop? Could you run lights, sound and AV from an iPhone? Would you trust it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Beesley Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 Could you run lights, sound and AV from an iPhone? Would you trust it?Short answer - NOPE! I cant even trust mine to make calls :** laughs out loud **: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron-Hill07 Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 I'm sure, once there has been more testing it will be possible to run light shows from an Iphone, but to be honest they aren't anywhere near reliable enough to do it. For a start, the battery would run out very bloody quickly unless plugged in 24/7 and also they just aren't powerful or reliable enough to run something that is so vital from them. So in the short, nope! I wouldn't trust them either Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 I'm sure, once there has been more testing it will be possible to run light shows from an Iphone, but to be honest they aren't anywhere near reliable enough to do it.It won't be.WiFi isn't reliable enough to run shows, so anything reliant on WiFi isn't reliable enough either. WiFi has an 'indeterminate' latency, because it's half-duplex and 'burst' mode. Not to mention that it's easily interfered with. So it's probably ok for use as a rigging remote, but not a lot else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glenn@KC Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 It won't be.WiFi isn't reliable enough to run shows, so anything reliant on WiFi isn't reliable enough eitherNever say never TomoI can see a future were wires are obsolete. I know it won’t come soon but who knows the way these things go.10 or 15 years ago the idea that you could do what we can now wirelessly would have blown my mine.All we really need to do now is come up with wireless power.That would be handy. Very dangerous but handy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 Wireless power is available but very expensive. There are some companies working on systems with a wireless power transmitter fitted to a ceiling in a room and varies items that can be moved around receiving power with no wires, its all very cool to see it work. Also shows are being run with wireless data, wireless DMX is a very common thing now with many new fixtures having receivers built in. I also know of many shows run using normal wireless kit, the more we use Ethernet the easier this becomes, wireless shows happen all the time its just the power we still have to plug in, for now at least Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 Never say never TomoI do say never, for WiFi.Other wireless solutions exist that are designed for the specific purpose of lighting control, and some are extremely good. But WiFi is, quite simply, rubbish for this application. If you don't care that it might take up to half a second for something to happen, then use WiFi.If you want it to actually happen a predictable and short time from your command, use something more reliable. A sound engineer said something quite a long time ago:"A $10,000 wireless system can be almost as good as a $10 cable" It's still true. The "almost" has got closer though, and they are now cheaper than ten grand. - And as for wireless transmission of power - do you really want to have that kind of 'insta-fry' beam of power transmission in your venue?I've seen the aftermath of a Navy vessel turning on it's radar when it shouldn't have, and cleaning up the dead birds was not fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glenn@KC Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 I see your point.WiFi is rubbish. Especially in the big tin can I work in. I have enough trouble with radio mics let alone wireless technology.So much of our work is governed by wires and cable and I’m longing for the day that we can do away with it all. How good would it be if every light in the rig just worked with out any fuss or hassle or cables? Were you could just drop a monitor on stage, turn up its relevant Aux and it will just work. No cables, no converters, no multicores. I know it’s a long way off but I think it will happen.Anyway that’s a different discussion for another day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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