Work at a nightclub, we run a set of four Elation Dartz 360 beams in our rig.

Over the past three years, we've had a recurring malfunction that induces this continuous pan behavior. However, whenever we take the fixtures in for repair to our dealer, they can't seem to replicate the behavior, which has made it difficult to identify the cause of the problem. I wanted to share the problem with the subreddit for any extra insight before I pull out ALL my hair.

Information about the malfunction:

• The behavior begins after the fixture receives power + runs through its startup routine--not before or during
• The behavior is unrelated to bad belts or motors, as far as the repair techs have been able to identify
• The behavior persists even when the fixture has 1) been factory-reset, 2) powered on with a terminator at the end of the DMX line, 3) powered on while disconnected from DMX, 4) powered from a different circuit, 6) removed from the strut and powered on while upright on the floor, and 5) all of the above and allowed to rest disconnected from power/DMX for a week+
• The behavior has persisted across different DMX controllers (we currently run ONYX on an Obsidian NX4), which, along with the above, leads me to believe it's unlikely to be bad data or a corrupted signal
• EDIT 1: The address and channel mode on the fixture are correct and in alignment with the patch, forgot to mention that initially

The single piece of info I would consider positive correlation is that the affected fixtures have generally been in that exact position in the rig when they start malfunctioning--although they then continue to do so when placed in another spot on the rig or connected differently via DMX, even directly to the controller itself, etc.

The most perplexing aspect is that evidently as soon as the fixtures leave the building, they start behaving again.

Has anyone seen similar behavior to this, either from this exact model or on another moving head with continuous pan/tilt?

Any insight into causes I may have overlooked?

Happy to answer additional any questions! Desperate to understand a bit more.

EDIT 2: Thank you for all the replies! A faulty pan/tilt sensor strikes me as the most promising lead so far, but I'll keep exploring some of the other suggested avenues. I'm almost entirely self-taught and don't always feel confident in my terminology, so I was hesitant to post here, but I'm glad I did. I appreciate the help!

I am looking for a new computer for lighting design. (My current personal laptop is a Dell xps 2-in-1 and is on its last legs)

I am early in my career but so far have not had the need to run qlab (and I am not super concerned about having it). I am thinking of looking into other Dell laptops or at the very least something with gaming specs as one of my main concerns is being able to render shows and run software like the EOS Augmented Visualizer.

I have looked at Mac laptops before and while I understand the draw, they are a little out of my price range for what I feel like I’d need, and I don’t Love that you can’t upgrade storage and running power as it’s soldered in. Any recommendations are welcome.

Blackout just announced that they released V3 and It has some awesome features. I have been trying to find an easy to use pixel mapping program for a while and then blackout just makes one. The problem is that it's locked behind a subscription.

I get that I can still use V2 but just at least let me pay you the one time fee again for V3 or SOMETHING. It also looks like I can't even use pixel mapping with core so I'd have to pay for pro. I get that I can just pay for a months worth of subscription but that's still $100 per production that I need to get covered or be denied the use of a kickass lighting console.

I hate that the world is moving in this direction. It's the reason I stopped using the adobe suite and it's why I stopped paying for netflix and started using physical disks. I already have to work in retail on top of my film work just to stay afloat and not end up on the street. paying all these subscriptions is making that even harder.

Anyway that you for reading my complaint. I am going to take my V2 Blackout to the corner and cry now.

Hi everyone!

I bought an Obsidian NX DMX node a few days ago, and I’m having some mixed feelings about it.

My original plan was to buy a generic/universal Art-Net/sACN node to use with grandMA2 / grandMA3 and ETC EOS. However, the shop didn’t have any universal nodes in stock at the moment, and the seller recommended the NX DMX. I convinced myself to go for it thinking, "Okay, maybe this is my sign to finally stop using cracked software and run a 100% legit, licensed setup!"

The seller showed me ONYX, and it looked straightforward and easy to pick up, so I made the investment ($450 USD). But after testing it at home, I’m not sure how I feel about the ONYX ecosystem:

A generic Art-Net node goes for around $250, so there's a $200 difference, plus the freedom to use it across any software that outputs standard sACN/Art-Net. I still have time to return the NX DMX and wait for a universal node to ship.

Has anyone here worked extensively with the NX DMX or ONYX hardware setup? Would you recommend sticking with ONYX for live gigs, or returning it for a universal node and keeping my options open?

Thanks in advance for your insights and advice!

Heyo party people :)

A Lightdesign I'm doing rn has a few "normal lihgtbulbs" in the set design. And since those are pretty low wattage I have to always add another lamp to the same dimmer channel to up the wattage ans get acceptable dimming. (Sorry if I explain this horribly, english isn't my first language, we usually call it "Dummies")

now I'm wondering if there's a better option for this than plugging in pinspots or smth like that, since the extra light (and heat) is always a bit annoying if I can't plug them in in a secluded room.

Like a Balast I just plug in with the lightbulb :)

If anybody knows amything or has ideas I'd be really greatful!

Hi everyone! I’m a stage manager currently finishing my master’s in Design Management at SCAD, and my final project explores how people working in live entertainment find, share, and keep track of production information.

I’ve put together a survey about the information you use, where you access it, what works well, and what could make the process easier. I’d love to hear from people across different roles and settings. Whether you work in theater, touring, theme parks, concerts, or other live events, your perspective would be helpful!

The survey has 15 questions, mostly multiple choice or ratings, with an optional space to share anything else.

Survey: https://forms.gle/g879mLGouLimRuHE9

Thank you for taking the time to help! Feel free to share it with anyone else who might be interested.

A show I work for does a revolving setup of a new show once every month or 2 in the same space. Because the setup is pretty much the same each time in terms of general layout, each show tends to make an outline of a face. It just kind of happens this way.

I'm designing a designated entertainment area and would like to include some sort of​ water ripple effect projection feature onto the wall.

I'm after a projector or any gadgets that can create water ripple and northern light effects in different colours that can be set to cycle.

Also, ideally, it can respond to ambient and other types of music.

It needs to be IP67, ideally extra low voltage (24v or something).

Thanks in advance!

I seem to always default to “in a line” left to right and I’m trying to vary my busking skills keeping it fresh.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated thanks 🙏

Just wondering if anyone else operates and/or leads lighting installations for NHL games. Would love to pick brains

Hey everyone! I’ve been using grandMA3 for about two months. I’m still a beginner, but I can patch fixtures, create groups, and build sequences with multiple cues. I can program basic looks and simple sequences, although my workflow still feels a bit clunky.

My question is: how do I get better from here? What should I focus on learning next, and what habits should I develop when programming?
I have access to a rig with:
6 moving heads
6 LED bars
12 Typhoon fixtures
2 Atomic strobes
4 × 2-lite blinders
2 × 4-lite blinders

If you’d like to check out my work so far as a beginner and see the rig I usually work with, my Instagram is @Rayklightss. Feedback is always welcome!

Any tips, practical exercises, or tutorials you’d recommend would be really appreciated. I’d love to make the most of this rig and keep improving!
Thanks in advance, guys!

My local venue is due an upgrade in the next year and I've got a few questions as to what console to get...

Most of the shows we get through would be typical one night rock and roll type gigs with the odd dance show or talk show, we previously had an etc ion classic which is doable to busk on just not very well designed for such

I've been aware of the Hog series for a while and they clearly seem to be a busking/gigging style desk almost MA3 sort of vibe, but I don't know how well if at all they'd be able to do the more theatre style show with a programmed cue stack.

The other option would be to get a Ion xe 20 and a few touch screen monitors as this is very capable of doing theatre and is limited but still able to do busking live shows with more prep.

I'd be very grateful for your opinions and advice :)

Surely they're not just hung from their power cords, right?

FieldLux After 3 Months of Open Beta: What’s Next for Our Projection & Lighting Simulation Tool

For the past three months, FieldLux has been running as an open beta.

FieldLux is a browser-based projection simulation tool built to help designers and technicians plan real-world setups before going on site.

You can plan projector placement and lenses, check throw distance, brightness, lux, luminance and pixel density, preview multi-projector layouts and blends, work from DWG/DXF drawings, add lighting and atmospheric effects, and share the finished setup with clients or crew.

During the open beta, I’ve kept improving the tool based on feedback from people actually using it on real projects.

Recent updates include DWG/DXF workflows, new projector placement tools, Play Dock for multi-projector preview and blending, rear projection, per-surface materials, lighting fixtures, atmospheric effects, and improved projector and lens data.

One of the biggest additions is Cloud Share.

Clients and crew can now open the actual 3D project directly in their browser and review projector specs, measurements, layers, projection layouts and technical information.

▶ Try a live FieldLux project:
https://app.field-lux.com/#server-share=0ae9e8b5-c83b-4f73-abb9-86a8fed7e692

No installation required.

Over the past three months, I’ve also received real installation cases, project files and feedback through DMs and Discord.

Seeing FieldLux actually being used on real projection projects has been one of the most rewarding parts of building it.

Now FieldLux is getting ready for its next stage.

In November, I’ll be launching a new website and announcing the subscription plans, including:

Weekly access for short-term productions and installations
Individual plans for designers and freelancers
Business plans for studios and companies

And importantly, FieldLux will remain completely free for everyone through November.

🔗 Try FieldLux:
https://field-lux.com

💬 Discord:
https://discord.com/invite/JpeQ7Hgsnd

Found this video https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdjllCUxZce/?exln=OG41MzlyaDE5aGx1 and it would be a lot of fun to be able to do this with my band. What would I need to be able to do this?

Hi everyone!

I recently got hold of an old TV studio spotlight, and I'm trying to figure out exactly what lamp it uses, whether it can be dimmed externally, and how to power it safely with modern equipment.

Here is what I know so far:

• It's an old tungsten TV studio spotlight, apparently a Fresnel fixture.
• The lamp has two markings printed on the glass: F48A and 2228.
• A nameplate on the fixture says 32 A and 3.75 kW.
• It is fitted with an old blue CEE 32 A, 230 V connector.
• After opening the fixture, I noticed that L1 from the power connector feeds two separate relays, which appear to supply the two independent electrical circuits of the lamp.

I'm guessing the lamp has two independently powered sections, but I haven't been able to confirm this yet.

My main questions are:

1. Does anyone recognize the lamp markings F48A and 2228? I'd love to identify the exact bulb type and find its specifications.
2. Is it possible to dim this fixture using an external dimmer? If so, what kind of dimmer would I need for a 3.75 kW tungsten load?
3. Where would I find a compatible power connection for this fixture nowadays? I have access to both 16 A and 32 A, 400 V three-phase CEE outlets, but the fixture itself has a 230 V, 32 A connector. Is there a standard solution for this, or would I need a specially wired adapter or distribution unit?

I'm particularly interested in how these fixtures were originally powered and dimmed in TV studios.

If anyone has experience with older studio fixtures or recognizes the lamp markings, I'd really appreciate any help!

Thanks in advance!

Images

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some help here as I’m in the process of building a club room and I’m trying to source / find someone to design light fixtures that resemble those at circoloco at DC-10 in Ibiza. I’m looking for linear “hand-drawn” squiggly lines that appear like neon tubing, but based on my very limited understanding of lighting, appear to be LED due to how quickly they react and respond.

Can anyone assist me here? I’m at a complete dead end with this project and this lighting spec.