wildswan Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 Hi, my amateur theatre company is currently using a Zero88 twin preset desk but needs to invest in a desk with the additional specification: • supports intelligent fixtures • includes an offline editor • includes a remote handset facility The Solution series appears to fit the bill but Phantom does not look as useful as say the ETC one or Light Factory. I would like to hear of your views please for setting up a show and then editing it using Phantom. Many thanks Wildswan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iank99 Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 As well as being in the industry - I still light shows for a little theatre (and used to light shows in a bigger theatre using Strand kit) and whilst I always thought I couldn't work without an offline editor for my lighting - I've always managed to. My "weapon" of choice is an Illusion 500 (I'd like an Orb but hey...) so I've never had access to an offline editor although I do have a spare console at home but I've never felt the need to pull it out to rework any programming. Perhaps it's the way our theatre works (and that I was taught to work) but I always manage to find time between rehearsals to rework the few cues I get wrong or during a rehearsal if the director really needs to change stuff. From my demo's and handover training of LeapFrog/Solution and Orb over the last few years - I think it's powerful enough with the features in the software that if you come to think within 12 months of ownership "Oh geez - I NEED an offline editor" then perhaps you've come at the desk the wrong way. A remote handset has it's uses but then I come from a background where I'm used to using a flash lead (a hard power extension) to focus my lights - I started off having to wait for a time switch to turn on my dimmer power - the flash lead changed my life. Whilst the remote monitor function is handy to let an SM see the cue list - I've never worked with an SM who wasn't busy enough calling the book to worry about LX cues executing - up a ladder with a 223 in one hand and focus remote in the other, somethings going to get dropped. If you are actively considering ETC (and I presume you're looking at Ion...) then bear in mind the limitations of the remote in relation to it's power management, our most regular customer bought one and has gone through 2 sets of ETC remote batteries in about 12 months... The easiest (or perhaps the best) advice I can give is this - if you've not seen a Solution in your venue, then contact your Local Zero88 dealer and ask them for a demo at your venue so you can see how it does it's "magic". If your local dealer can't do a demo then ask Jon to set one up for you - I think you'll end up being pleasantly surprised. Quote Ian Knight aka The Service Guy - www.serviceguy.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.