Stage Automation

Stage Technologies Automation User Generated Handbook

Desk Hardware

The desk we use for the Automation system within the Academy is the Illusionist Desk.

The controls for the desk

• A flat panel display screen
• 58 command keys on the right hand side of the console
• A compact external keyboard
• 3 E-Belt playbacks (far left red,then blue and yellow) each with go/stop and select keys
• An emergency stop button
• A touch pad with left and right mouse buttons
• A single adjustable desk light
• A writeable CD Rom drive
• There is a mountable rack
• A single deadman's handle situated below the playbacks

With the deadman's handle it is essential it is pressed and held down before amove and kept pressed down for the duration of the move.

Constraints imposed by the hardware

• Not designed to be portable
• Does not have a touch screen
• There is no duplicated computer hardware
• The illusionist only has three playbacks so it would be impossible to create a cue that would

require five playbacks.

Using playbacks,starting and stopping

Command Keys

Define, Rig and Reference Scenery

Once you have physically rigged your scenery you will need to soft rig the scenery on the desk. The process for doing that is:

[SHOW] [001] [RECORD]

[RIG]

select "Define Scenery" Tab

Select the Axis/Axises you want to rig (using [Ctrl] key on keyboard to select more than one)

Select whether it is a "Single Axis" or "Multi Axis"

• If you select "Multi Axis" you will be given the option of what kind of group to make it: Safe, Locked etc. You will also be asked to give it a "Group Number" and "Master Axis". The Master Axis is the Axis the height for your reference possition is taken from, it is used most effectivly on groups where the axis' are at different heights eg. for a slanting roof.

Select "Rig/Derig Scenery" Tab

Select Axis, Click "Rig" then "Reference". 99% of the time you will reference to 0m

Referencing

The act of referencing is done to give a point of reference to the size of the piece of scenery being flown. A reference point would normally be set with the scenery just touching the deck. You would then plot your deads. Should the piece of scenery change size - a drop stretching, a doorway shortened/extended instead of changing each dead individually you can change the reference point and all the deads will automatically be adjusted. Very useful if you have an indecisive designer or multiple deads.

N/B You can only change your reference point if you have manualy set your reference point. If you have auto referenced you can not change your reference point.