emily: lx

Hi peeps. Here’s a little post explaining a bit of my workflow for programming a show. I’ll add more pictures as I get the chance.

ETC Nomad, and their student bundle, are a super affordable way to get into lighting design and programming as a freelancer. I picked up the student bundle while studying, but this applies to all Nomad users.

Using Nomad on a laptop, without a $5k+ programming wing, is a pain. The screen is small, and you have to try to remember keyboard shortcuts, with no menus to simplify things. When I realised this was the way things were, I decided to look for another option.

I happened to have an original iPad Pro (12.9″) already, so it was easy for me to justify using, but I understand this wouldn’t be the case for people who don’t have one, but guess what? Any iPad or android tablet will work just fine with this solution.

I use TouchOSC. It’s an app that provides a customisable interface of controls that trigger (and receive) OSC data. It’s US$5, in the App Store, which is ridiculously cheap for something I use professionally.

OSC is a protocol for devices to send commands and data in real time. On its own, it’s just a blank slate. But ETC have baked lots of complex OSC control capabilities into both Eos and Cobalt software! By using custom TouchOSC Layouts that call the commands Eos and Cobalt support, we can trigger just about anything on the desk that any other interaction can do.

I run three TouchOSC layouts. Most importantly, I have an iPad Pro-sized layout with an entire Gio Faceplate on it. Every button, in exactly the same place. So when I go between physical consoles and my iPad, nothing changes! I no longer need to use any keyboard shortcuts at all.

I also have an iPhone-sized layout for channel checks, and checking patching up in the catwalks (soooo useful as a one-woman show), and a normal iPad (9.7″)-sized layout with a bunch of Direct Select banks on it. This one, I have just started running on an old iPad 2 I had lying around, to quickly select groups and palettes. I should mention that Eos/Cobalt support sending data back, from the software to TouchOSC. This includes softkey labels, DS button titles, parameter titles, current cue, and the command line, among others. It’s super useful, and I’ve integrated as much as possible in my layouts.

The last piece that holds all these parts together is my LX case. I’ve posted some pictures of it before, but here it is:

On the outside, it’s a metal suitcase with an IEC, Ethernet and 2 DMX connectors. Inside, it’s a cheap wireless router, and the cheapest sACN to DMX converter I could find, along with a power supply, USB outlet and some wiring.

This case cost me about AU$200 to build, plus labour. The most expensive parts were the case itself, and the sACN-DMX converter.

When I go to program a gig, I bring: my LX case, my iPad (recently, both iPads), and my laptop with nomad dongle. That’s all I need. I can open the case and grab the cables, plug it into power and DMX, boot my devices, open Eos (and OSCRouter, a utility by ETCLabs), and go.

My case stays wherever the DMX inputs are. My laptop and iPads, can go anywhere. Worried about the low angles? I walk down and sit in the front row, and program there. Scared of the Stage Manager and want to hide? I go program in the back of the dress circle. Providing it’s within wifi distance, everything works perfectly.

For people horrified at the idea of running a show over wifi: I get you. The Ethernet cable on the side of the case is to connect the laptop via USB-Ethernet converter, for shows. But in all honesty, the last few shows I’ve run, I haven’t bothered, because I haven’t had a single issue with wifi so far. I always have the converter in my bag though.

If you use OSC with Eos/Cobalt, or use TouchOSC, or just think this is interesting, let me know. It’s a system I’m working to improve all the time.

If we ever work together, and some dude has told you he’s not going to teach you something because you’re a lady, you come straight to me because I’m going to teach you. If some co-worker of yours is not respecting your boundaries and making comments about how you can’t possibly be as good at your job as a man, you come to me and I will go with you to his supervisor. 

I will be there to stand beside you. You can absolutely count on that. 

Because I’ve seen too much of this bullshit and it’s become apparent that it won’t end unless we are actively and aggressively supporting women in our industry, especially those in male dominated fields like scenic carpentry.