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Booth# C12203Glossary Terms :
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10-Bit DMX |
| A value or parameter using two DMX channels for control. more... |
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1000 - 5000 Lumens |
| A projector that produces 1000 - 5000 lumens of light. more... |
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5000 - 10000 Lumens |
| A projector that produces 5000 - 10000 lumens of light. more... |
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8-Bit DMX |
| A value or parameter using one DMX channel for control. more... |
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A.J. |
| UK slang for Adjustable Spanner. Also know in the US as a Crescent Wrench or C-Wrench. more... |
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A1 |
| A1 is Lighting Industry Forum code for lamps that are origianally recommended for projection. Here are all the codes: CP: Film, Television &Photographic studio (3200K) A1: Projection T: Theatre (3000K) P2: Photoflood (3200K) K: General Purpose Flood Lighting (2850K) more... |
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AB |
| A stereo recording technique. Two microphones of the same make and model are located next to one another in , and point in the same direction. The left mic is panned hard left on the mixer. The right mic is panned hard right. This technique has flaws, such as audio reflections from each mic which can cause comb filtering (narrow coverage). This can be some more... |
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Aberration |
| A flaw in a Lens that causes distorted images, especially towards the edge of the lens field. Compound lens construction and the use of small apertures can reducethese flaws. There are many types of aberrations, including chromatic, spherical, curvature of field, distortion, and elemental. more... |
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Absorption |
| A surfaces ability to absorb sound. Absorption is rated from 0 to 1. Full absoption is 1. Full reflection is 0. more... |
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Accent |
| A distinguishing feature or characteristic in design, such as a feature that sets apart or complements a decorative style. Something that emphasizes or contrasts something else, like when a little color makes the qualities of an image stand out. more... |
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Achromatic |
| A lens arrangement designed to decrease chromatic aberration, for example: to set the same focal length for red and blue light at the focal plane. Also, a color having no chroma as in black, white and grays created by mixing black and white instead of other colors that are made of chromatic pigments. more... |
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Acoustics |
| Acoustics is a branch of physics and is the study of sound, mechanical waves in gases, liquids, and solids. A scientist who works in the field of acoustics is an acoustician. The application of acoustics in technology is called acoustical engineering. There is often much overlap and interaction between the interests of acousticians and acoustical engineers. more... |
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Active |
| A active circuit works with an external power supply and usually at low power. A passive circuit operates directly on a signal using the power coming from the surrounding circuitry. This is the reason why an active crossover is, for the most part, placed before amps, containing integrated circuits (and line level signal processing). On the other hand a pas more... |
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Adaptor |
| A connector allowing more than 2 electrical devices to be connected to a single power source. These connections are normally in parallel (each device is given the same voltage levels), but current is divided between them. Also known as a "Twofer". 3-way splitters are known as "Threefers". more... |
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Address |
| In computer science, a memory address is a unique identifier for a memory location at which a CPU or other device can store a piece of data for later retrieval. In modern byte-addressable computers, each address identifies a single byte of storage; data too large to be stored in a single byte may reside in multiple bytes occupying a sequence of consecutive a more... |
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Advanced Control Network (ACN) |
| A new protocol designed to improve upon on the exisiting known limitations of the DMX512 protocol. It was developed by the ESTA (The Entertainment Services and Technology Association). The Advanced Control Network (ACN) is intended to provide the next generation standard for the distribution of data in lighting control networks. ACN needs to do much more t more... |
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Aircraft Landing Light (ACL) |
| A narrow beam PAR lamp (28 volt) that is used on aircraft and often adopted for PAR64 and PAR46 lamps. They are most commonly 4 lamps wired in series to attain the required voltage of the circuit as close to 120 volts. ACL lamps have a higher intensity, brightness and color temperature than the standard PAR lamp. ACL lamps are more expensive than standard more... |
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Alternating Current (AC) |
| An alternating current (AC) is an electrical current where the magnitude and direction of the current varies cyclically, as opposed to direct current, where the direction of the current stays constant. The usual waveform of an AC power circuit is a sine wave, as this results in the most efficient transmission of energy. However in certain applications diffe more... |
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American National Standards Institute (ANSI) |
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Amp Module |
| An amp module is an individual amplifier, usually rack mountable, but may also be a stand alone amplifier. more... |
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Amp Processor |
| An amp-processor is an amplifier that has other audio processing capabilities like compression or equalization and are often used in PA systems or to amplify mics or musical instruments. more... |
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Amp Racks |
| An amp rack is any furniture, fixture, or case where multiple amplifiers are mounted in slots or grooves, generally used in touring systems because they are easy to transport. more... |
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Ampere |
| The ampere (symbol: A) is the SI base unit of electrical current equal to one coulomb per second. It is named after André-Marie Ampère, one of the main discoverers of electromagnetism. The ampere is that constant current which, if maintained in two straight parallel conductors of infinite length, of negligible circular cross-section, and placed 1 metre apar more... |
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Amphitheatre |
| The name amphitheatre (alternatively amphitheater) is given to a public building of the Classical period (being particularly associated with ancient Rome) which was used for spectator sports, games and displays. Apart from function, the important outward distinction between an amphitheatre and a theatre is that an amphitheatre is round or oval in shape (whe more... |
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Amplifier |
| The amplifier can be considered to be any device that uses a small amount of energy to control a larger amount, although the term today usually refers to an electronic amplifier. The relationship of the input to the output of an amplifier — usually expressed as a function of the input frequency — is called the transfer function of the amplifier, and the magn more... |
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Amplitude |
| Amplitude is a nonnegative scalar measure of a wave's magnitude of oscillation, that is, magnitude of the maximum disturbance in the medium during one wave cycle. Sometimes this distance is called the "peak amplitude", distinguishing it from another concept of amplitude, used especially in electrical engineering: the root mean square (RMS) amplitude, define more... |
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Analog signal |
| An analog or analogue signal is any variable signal continuous in both time and amplitude. It differs from a digital signal in that small fluctuations in the signal are meaningful. Analog is usually thought of in an electrical context, however mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and other systems may also use analog signals. The word "analog" implies an analo more... |
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Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) |
| In electronics, an analog-to-digital converter (abbreviated ADC, A/D, or A to D) is a device that converts continuous signals to discrete digital numbers. Typically, an ADC converts a voltage to a digital number. The digital to analog converter or DAC performs the reverse operation. more... |
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Angstrom |
| An angstrom, angström, or ångström (symbol Å) is a unit of length. It is not an SI unit. It is accepted (although discouraged) for use with the SI. It is used sometimes used expressing the size of atoms, and lengths of chemical bonds and visible-light spectra. The ångström is named after the Swedish physicist Anders Jonas Ångström (1814–1874), one of the fo more... |
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Arc Lamp |
| An arc lamp is a device that produces light by the sparking (or arcing, from voltaic arc or electric arc) of a high current between two carbon rod electrodes. The rods are touched and then slowly drawn apart; as the rods separate the current is "struck" and arcs across the gap in a bright, ionized path. The arc produces a temperature of several thousand degr more... |
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Artnet |
| A lighting control protocol that is run over ethernet. Developed by Artistic Lisence. This protocol can use up to 256 DMX512 universes. This technology can also run over wireless ethernet. more... |
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Audio |
| Audio is the science and art of recording or reproducing sound through mechanical or electronic means. The field includes many disciplines, such as electrical engineering, acoustics, and music with design, installation and operation of sound recording and reproduction equipment as the focus. more... |
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Automated Light |
| Automated Lights were originally used in 1972, but the first computer-controlled stage lighting fixtures began to gain widespread acceptance in the concert industry in the early 1980's. As the digital age progressed, the cost of these fixtures was reduced and they slowly started being used in more 'traditional' theatrical environments. Intelligent fixtures a more... |
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Auxiliary Input |
| A signal path that goes back to the sound console for line lever signals sent to a seperate outboard piece of equipment such as an EQ, Delay, Effect Processor, etc, via an Auxiliary Send. more... |
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Auxiliary Output |
| A seperate line level output from a sound console that is to be used for foldback or monitoring that does not use up another main output. Each in channel has a path to the Auxiliary bus. It is also useful to send a signal to a separate effects processor. more... |
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Backlight |
| Light that comes from the upstage, behind all actors and scenery. It helps to separate them from the back drop. Light coming from upstage, behind scenery or actors, to sculpt and separate them from the background more... |
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Backline |
| Backline is equipment that is located behind a live band while they are performing. Such examples of backline include amps for guitars and basses. It is the equipment that the band needs aside from the actual instruments that they are holding and using and the PA and FOH desks. more... |
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Ballyhoo |
| A set of programmed moves for automated lights where the lights move randomly within a specific area. more... |
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Base Station |
| A base station is a device used to centralize and process communication signals and information between crew members. more... |
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Beamage |
| The beam of light projected from lights as it appears in the air. more... |
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Box |
| A box truss is square in shape like a box in cross section and is useful for touring as gear can be hung inside the truss which protects it when loading and takes up less space in the truck. more... |
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Bulbs |
| A Bulb or light bulb is a source of artificial light. There are many different kinds of bulbs including High Intensity Discharge or HIDs, Halogen, Fluorescent and Light Emitting Diodes, but the most common is the incandescence that works by the release of electromagnetic radiation. more... |
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Bump Button |
| A lighting console button that performs on action when pressed and another when released. This is a lighting console term. more... |
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Cabinets |
| A cabinet is a loudspeaker enclosure designed to prevent sound waves from the rear of the speaker combining with the sound waves from the front of the speaker creating interference that would cause the efficiency of the speaker to be compromised. more... |
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Cameras |
| A video camera is a camera that takes continuous pictures and generates a signal for display or recording. It captures images by breaking them down into a series of electromagnetic lines. more... |
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Chase |
| A set of cues that loops again and again. This is a lighting console term. more... |
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Circular |
| A circular truss is a truss that is shaped like a circle and generally used in large open venues where the stage can be viewed from many angles. more... |
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Club Systems |
| A club system is an all in one audio or lighting set up designed for permanent installation in a nightclub or similar venue more... |
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Color |
| Color temperature is measured in kelvins, and gel colors are organized by several different systems maintained by the color manufacturing companies. The apparent color of a light is determined largely by the gel color given it, but also in part by the power level the lamp is being run at and the color of material is it to light. As the percentage of full po more... |
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Color Changers |
| A conventional lighting fixture with a remotely controlled colored changeable filter over the lens. There are three kinds of mechanisms used in color changers, a wheel with lens sized holes into which colored gells can be placed, multiple fixed filters that can be moved in and out of the beam to mix the colors and a scroller which uses continuous, usually di more... |
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Color gel |
| Color gel is a translucent or transparent coloured material that is used in theatre to colour light. Modern gels are usually made of polycarbonate or polyester, but the name arose from the gelatin originally used. See gel (theater). Gels are also used in photography and cinematography for the purpose of color correction, and in this capacity are usually cal more... |
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Communications |
| Communication gear is essentially used to relay information to different individuals or teams during a show or performance to insure everything, including audio, lighting and staging are timed correctly and functioning properly and safely. more... |
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Compression and Dynamics |
| Compression is the reduction of the dynamic range of a sound to avoid unintentional changes and increases in the amplitude. Compression is generally used to make an audio signal sound louder without increasing its peak amplitude. By compressing or limiting the peak signals, it becomes possible to increase the overall volume of the signal without exceeding th more... |
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Concert Lighting |
| Modern stage lighting is a flexible tool in the production of theatre, dance, opera and other performance arts. Several different types of lighting instruments are used in the pursuit of the various principles or goals of lighting. more... |
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Coners and Hinges |
| Corners are used to attach trusses and other rigging while hinges are used to allow attached rigging to swing open so other gear can be connected. more... |
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Control Consoles |
| Lighting consoles are electronic devices used in lighting design to control multiple lighting and staging devices. They can generally control dimmers and many modern consoles can also control automated lighting, fog machines, hazers, and other special effects devices. Lighting consoles communicate with the devices in the lighting system with an electronic co more... |
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Controllers |
| A hoist or motor controller is a machine for raising and lowering personnel or gear by means of a cable for the purpose of setting the gear in place on a truss or stage. more... |
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Conventional |
| Conventional lighting is made up of stationary lights that can be moved, but only via manual means of adjusting, or focusing the fixture with a yoke. However, some aspects of the lights, like brightness and color may be controlled remotely by consoles or analog audio inputs. There are many different conventional lights used in stage lighting design includin more... |
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Conventional Lighting |
| Conventional lighting is made up of stationary lights that can be moved, but only via manual means of adjusting, or focusing the fixture with a yoke. more... |
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Converters and Sync |
| An audio converter is a type of electronic hardware that converts analog audio signals to digital audio format or vice versa. Audio synchronizers arrange the signals, either analog, digital or both, so that multiple the signals occur in time. more... |
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Crank Lifts |
| A crank lift is used to manually lift and set a section of scaffolding into place. more... |
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Crossfade |
| A value of time that is assigned to a parameter that controls the duration of change from one DMX value to another DMX value or to fade from one scene to another. This is a lighting console term. more... |
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Cue |
| Generally, a lighting board operator has a cue sheet for each scene, which is a diagram of the board with the faders in their positions as determined by the lighting designer. The operator sets the faders into their positions based on the cue sheets. Typically during a cue, the operator sets the next scene. Then, the operator makes the transition between the more... |
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Cyc Light |
| Cyc lights, also known as strip lights are long housings typically containing multiple lamps arranged along the length of the instrument and emitting light perpendicular to its length. Lamps are often covered with individual gels of multiple colors (somet more... |
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Delay |
| Delay is an audio effect which records a signal or sound and then plays it back after a period of time. The delayed signal may be played back multiple times or looped back into the recording again to create the sound of a repeating decaying echo. Unlike reverb, which uses reflected sound to produce many echos, delay has greater control over the number of tim more... |
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Depth of Field |
| While a lens focuses on a single plane of depth, there is usually an additional area in focus behind and in front of that plane. This is depth of field. Depth of field increases as the iris is closed. There is more depth of field the wider the lens and le more... |
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Dichroic |
| In optics, the term dichroic has two related but distinct meanings. A dichroic material is one which either causes light to be split up into distinct beams of different wavelengths (colours), or, one in which light rays having different polarizations are absorbed by different amounts. The original meaning of dichroic (from the Greek dikhroos, two-coloured) more... |
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Digital Projection |
| A digital projection display system is a computerized display that projects an image, often a logo, on a screen, building or other architectural features like the court in a sports arena. Such devices are commonly used in presentations or as promotional devices. These displays use a very bright light to project the image, and can generally correct any curves more... |
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Digital signal |
| A digital signal is a signal that is both discrete and quantized. Its primary counterpart is an analog signal. Digital signals usually occur in electronics, but may be found in other fields of engineering as well. Digital signals may be divided into two categories: * Some are inherently both discrete and quantized (ex. the number of people who visit a more... |
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Dimmer |
| Dimmers are devices used to vary the voltage running to a light. By decreasing or increasing the voltage to the lamp it is possible to vary the intensity of the lamp. Changes in intensity are called “fades” and can be “fade ups” or “fade downs.” Although variable-voltage devices are used for various purposes, the term dimmer is generally associated with ligh more... |
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Dimmers and Distro |
| Dimmers are devices used to vary the brightness of a light or stage light and are usually controlled remotely by a lighting console or controller by way of a protocol that is usually DMX. A Distro is a device that distributes power to many devices. more... |
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Discharge Lamp |
| A high powered light source produced by an arcing electrical discharge between two electrodes suspended in a glass tube filled with gas, usually high or low pressure sodium gas, xenon, mercury vapor, or metal halide. This type of illumination is limited to applications such as followspots and projection, where dimming is accomplished by mechanical instrumen more... |
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DMX-512 |
| DMX512, often shortened to DMX (Digital MultipleX), is a communications protocol used mainly to control stage lighting. Developed by the Engineering Commission of USITT, the standard started in 1986, with subsequent revisions in 1990 leading to USITT DMX512/1990. ESTA took control of the standard in 1998 and began a revision process. The new standard, known more... |
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Drivers and Horns |
| Drivers and Horns are speakers designed to produce high frequency audio usually around 3-5 kHz and up to 20 kHz. Horns are usually in the shape of a long corn and look somewhat like the horn of a musical instrument. more... |
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Editing Suites |
| An editing suite is one or more high performance servers used for all kinds of graphics manipulation from picture quality improvements, color correction and format conversion to higher or lower resolutions or different aspect ratios. Servers and storage systems as well as computing intensive image processing are at the heart of editing suite applications. more... |
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Effects |
| Lighting Effects are devices that are generally used to enhance other lighting or staging devices, like foggers, lasers or pyrotechnics and can also have and effect on setting the mood during a performance like color changers. more... |
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Ellipsoidal |
| Ellipsoidal is the name for a type of theatrical light, getting the name from the ellipsoidal reflector used to intensify the light of a back-loading lamp through the barrel and lens. Ellipsoidals are used for their strong, well-defined light and their versatility. Characteristics of an ellipsoidal lighting unit include: * An adjustable barrel, allowing a more... |
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Ellipsoidal Reflector Spotlight |
| ERS is an acronym standing for Ellipsoidal Reflector Spotlight. These are sometimes known by their brand names, especially Leko, short for Lekolite, the name given to them by their inventors, Joseph Levy and Edward Kook. ETC's Source Four has become a very popular ERS throughout the industry, and some people use the term Source Four to refer to spotlights in more... |
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Enhancers |
| Enhancers are outboard audio effects used to improve the clarity of the sound. more... |
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Entire Stages |
| An entire stage is a complete stage that generally include platforms, stairs and sometimes roofing, ranging in size from small easy to transport stages to large staging systems. more... |
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EQ |
| Equalization, or EQ, applies to any hardware or outboard effect used for the process of changing, increasing or decreasing the level or volume of a certain frequency in a sound to bring that frequencies volume in line with the other sounds. It is used in live events and audio recording in film, music, TV and radio. more... |
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Ethernet |
| Ethernet (this name comes from the physical concept of ether) is a frame-based computer networking technology for local area networks (LANs). It defines wiring and signaling for the physical layer, and frame formats and protocols for the media access control (MAC)/data link layer of the OSI model. Ethernet is mostly standardized as IEEEs 802.3. It has become more... |
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Fog |
| A fogger is a device that emits a dense vapor that appears similar to fog or smoke, usually by the vaporization of a water and glycol based or glycerine based fluid. A hazer or diffusion fogger is used to produce an atmospheric haze, rather than clouds of smoke, and is used by many lighting designers to reveal airborne light beams, especially lazers. more... |
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Fogger |
| A Fogger or Smoke machine is an electrical device that creates clouds of artificual and hopefully non-toxic fog. The fog may come in different colors or smells and may be water or mineral based. It is used for effects in theatre, staging, concerts and clubs. Hazers by contrast create a more diffusive, expansive haze that is usually not a thick and is used more... |
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Folding |
| A folding truss is a truss that folds for easy storage and transport. more... |
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Followspot |
| Followspot is a generic term used to describe any number of lighting instruments used to highlight performers on stage. A followspot operator moves the followspot to follow the performer or to accent some action or prop etc. Somtimes called limes, dating back to the days of limelight. Followspots are generally much brighter than conventional lighting instr more... |
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Frequency |
| The measurement of the number of times a repeated event, generally a waveform, occurs in a given time frame usually expressed in Hertz, abbreviated Hz, or cycles per second. more... |
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Fresnel |
| Fresnels are typically 8-, 6- or 4-inch, referring to the diameter of the lens. This light is named after Augustin-Jean Fresnel who invented the distinctive Fresnel lens which has a 'stepped' appearance instead of the 'full' or 'smooth' appearance of other lenses. The stepped nature of the lens causes a corresponding pattern of circles of light, so Fresnel l more... |
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Fresnel Lens |
| A Fresnel lens is a type of lens invented by Augustin-Jean Fresnel. Originally developed for lighthouses, the design enables the construction of lenses of large size and short focal length without the weight and volume of material which would be required in a lens of conventional design. The Fresnel lens (often pronounced FREZ-nell but usually the original more... |
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Full Racks |
| Dimmer racks are cabinets designed for stacking many dimmer modules into an easily accessible space. They can be permanent architectural installments or portable units built for road travel and vary in size from small rack with only a few dimmer modules to very large racks with hundreds. more... |
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Generators |
| Generators are used to provide power where power is otherwise not available, like in out door arenas or remote locations, or when not enough power is available at a particular location. more... |
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Gobo |
| A gobo is a thin circular plate with holes cut in it to create patterns of projected light. The name may be derived from a contraction of "go between", or from "GOes Before Optics". Another possible origin is from the early days of Hollywood. When the Director of Photography wanted daylight excluded from some area of the set, he'd say "GO BlackOut". Members more... |
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Ground Support |
| In Staging, Ground Support applies to any electrical or mechanical device to aid a rigging crew in lifting and placing staging gear, lighting or audio gear into place. more... |
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Hazer |
| A Smoke Machine or Fogger is an electrical device that creates clouds of artificual and hopefully non-toxic fog. The fog may come in different colors or smells and may be water or mineral based. It is used for effects in theatre, staging, concerts and clubs. A Hazer by contrast create a more diffusive, expansive haze that is usually not a thick and is used more... |
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Headsets and Beltpacks |
| Headsets are simply headphones with an attached mic, usually a noise canceling condenser mic, used for communicating with other crew members during a show or production. Beltpacks provide power to the headset and allow it to be used remotely. more... |
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Hertz |
| A unit of measure for frequency generally applied to waveforms, one Hertz is equal to one cycle in one second. It is abbreviated Hz so that 100 Hz would be 100 cycles per second. However, the unit may be applied to periodic events other than waveforms like the second hand on a clock, which would cycle at 1 Hz, or a human heart that may beat at 1.2 Hz. Nam more... |
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Hoist |
| A hoist is a device used for lifting or lowering a load by means of a drum or barrel around which rope or chain wraps. It may be manually operated, electrically or pneumatically driven and may use chain, fiber or wire rope as its lifting medium. A hoist normally is used for lifting (near vertical) and a winch is normally used for pulling (near horizontal). more... |
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House Lights |
| House lights are incandescent or fluorescent floodlights. House lights provide light for the audience before and after performances and during intermissions. Work lights provide general lighting backstage, or in the house. House lights are often controlled by dimmers, but are sometimes on simple switches. Work lights are almost always switched only. House an more... |
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Illumination |
| The simple ability to see what is occurring onstage more... |
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Incandescent light bulb |
| The incandescent light bulb (archaically known as the electric lamp) uses a glowing wire filament heated to white-hot by electrical resistance, to generate light (a process known as thermal radiation or incandescence). The bulb is the glass enclosure which keeps the filament in a vacuum or low-pressure noble gas, or a halogen gas in the case of quartz-haloge more... |
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Intelligent Fixtures |
| Intelligent Fixtures or Moving Lights were originally implemented in 1972, but the first computer-controlled stage lighting fixtures began to gain widespread acceptance in the concert industry in the early 1980's. As the digital age progressed, the cost of these fixtures was reduced and they slowly started being used in more 'traditional' theatrical environm more... |
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Intelligent Lighting |
| Intelligent lighting is stage lighting that has automated or mechanical functions beyond traditional, stationary illumination. While intelligent lights can at times display complicated effects and functions, they are only capable of performing the task set up by the programmer and are therefore sometimes referred to as obedient lighting. Intelligent lights c more... |
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Intensity |
| Measured in both lux and lumens. For any given luminaire (lighting instrument or fixture), this depends upon the power of the bulb, the design of the instrument (and its corresponding efficiency), the presence or absence of color gels or gobos, distance from the area to be lit, the color and subtance to be lit, and the neuro-optics of the total scene (that i more... |
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Joule |
| A term in the international system for a unit of electrical, mechanical, and thermal energy equal to the work done when a current of one ampere is passed through a resistance of one ohm for one second. Surge protectors are often given joule ratings, but this rating refers only to the amount of energy they can absorb, not what gets through. Its value was ca more... |
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Kelvin |
| The kelvin (symbol: K) is the SI unit of temperature, and is one of the seven SI base units. It is defined by two facts: zero kelvins is absolute zero (when molecular motion stops), and one kelvin is the fraction 1/273.16 of the thermodynamic temperature of the triple point of water. The Celsius temperature scale is now defined in terms of the kelvin, with 0 more... |
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Large Format Mixers |
| Large format mixers are audio mixers having more than 24 channels for input/output. more... |
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Laser |
| LASER is acronym for Light Amplified by Stimulated Emission of Radiation and is an optical source that emits photons in a coherent concentrated beam. There are many different kinds of LASERs producing many different colors, but red is the most common. more... |
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LCD |
| A liquid crystal display is a low power, flat, thin display device made up of color or monochrome pixels arranged in front of a light source or reflector. more... |
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LED |
| An LED or light emitting diode is simply a tiny light bulb that fits into an electrical circuit. However, unlike ordinary bulbs, LEDs don't have a filament that will burn out and generate very little heat. They are illuminated by the movement of electrons in a semiconductor material and last as long as a standard transistor. more... |
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Lens |
| A lens is a device for either concentrating or diverging light, usually formed from a piece of shaped glass. Analogous devices used with other types of electromagnetic radiation are also called lenses: for instance, a microwave lens can be made from paraffin wax. The earliest records of lenses date to Ancient Greece, with Aristophanes' play The Clouds (424 more... |
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Light Board |
| A light board is yet another name used to describe a lighting console. more... |
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Lighting |
| Lighting or stage lighting is a tool and art form in the production of theater, dance, opera and other performance arts. Several different types of stage lighting instruments are used in the pursuit of the various principles or goals of lighting ranging from simple illumination to mood setting. Lighting also applies architectural accents to add color or sha more... |
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Lighting Console |
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Lighting Control Console |
| Lighting control consoles (also called lighting boards or lighting desks) are electronic devices used in theatrical lighting design to control multiple lights at once. They are used throughout the entertainment industry and are normally placed at the FOH position or in a control booth. All lighting control consoles can control dimmers which, in turn, control more... |
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Lighting Desk |
| Lighting control consoles (also called lighting boards or lighting desks) are electronic devices used in theatrical lighting design to control multiple lights at once. They are used throughout the entertainment industry and are normally placed at the FOH position or in a control booth. All lighting control consoles can control dimmers which, in turn, contro more... |
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Lighting instruments |
| There are a variety of instruments frequently used in the theater. Although they vary in many ways they all have the following four basic components in one form or another... * Box/Housing - a metal or plastic container to house the whole instrument and prevent light from spilling in un-wanted directions. * Source of light (bulb or lamp). * Lens or opening more... |
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Limelight |
| An early type of stage light in which an intense illumination is created when an oxyhydrogen flame is directed at a cylinder of lime, also called calcium oxide, which can be raised to white incandescence heat without melting to producing brilliant illumination. The limelight effect was discovered early in the nineteenth century by Goldsworthy Gurney. A Sco more... |
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Lumen |
| In physics, specifically photometry (optics), the lumen (symbol: lm) is the SI derived unit of luminous flux. It is the amount of light that falls on a unit spherical area at unit distance from a source of one candela. In steradians this is equivalent to the amount of light that falls on a unit solid angle from a light source of one candela. Alternatively, o more... |
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Lux |
| The lux (symbol: lx) is the SI derived unit of illuminance or illumination. It is equal to one lumen per square metre. The difference between the lux and the lumen is that the lux takes into account the area over which the luminous flux is spread. 1000 lumens, concentrated into an area of one square metre, lights up that square metre with an illuminance of more... |
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Memory Consoles |
| Memory-based consoles have become very popular in almost all larger installations, particularly theatres. These new types of controls have completely replaced preset consoles as controllers of choice. Memory consoles are preferable in productions where scenes do not change from show to show, such as a theatre production, because scenes are designed and digi more... |
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Microphones |
| A microphone is a device that converts sound waves into an electrical signal. There are many different kinds of microphones, including carbon, condenser, dynamic, and ribbon microphones, all of which have serve specific needs in recording and audio production. more... |
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Mixers |
| A mixer is an electronic device for combining or "mixing" audio signals by routing and changing the level, tone, and/or dynamics of the audio signals. A mixer can mix analog or digital signals depending on the type of mixer. The modified signals are then combined to produce a unified signal output. Mixers can vary in size and function ranging from small fo more... |
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Monitor |
| Monitor can refer to a speaker used on stage, usually in the shape of a wedge, to enable musicians to hear each other or a studio monitor that is designed for audio production in recording, film, television and radio studios. more... |
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Motor |
| A hoist is a device used for lifting or lowering a load by means of a drum or barrel around which rope or chain wraps. It may be manually operated, electrically or pneumatically driven and may use chain, fiber or wire rope as its lifting medium. A hoist normally is used for lifting (near vertical) and a winch is normally used for pulling (near horizontal). more... |
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Motors |
| Motors are any electrical or mechanical device used to power lifts that aid the ground support crew in placing gear up onto stages or trusses. more... |
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Mount Speakers |
| A speaker designed to be mounted on or in a wall or on a stand. more... |
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Moving Heads |
| A moving head is an intelligent light mounted on a moving yoke and generally remotely controlled by a lighting control console or preprogrammed to perform a large variety of effects and operations. A single moving head luminary can replace the functions of many conventional lights and can often perform tasks conventional lights can not. Most modern moving he more... |
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Moving Light |
| A moving light truss has a wider opening to accommodate the space required for a moving head light. more... |
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Moving Lights |
| Moving lights or intelligent fixtures were originally implemented in 1972, but the first computer-controlled stage lighting fixtures began to gain widespread acceptance in the concert industry in the early 1980's. As the digital age progressed, the cost of these fixtures was reduced and they slowly started being used in more 'traditional' theatrical environm more... |
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Moving Mirror Lights |
| A common term for a moving mirror stage/concert light. This light in particular is common is clubs, discos and lounges. As opposed to the moving head lights that are more common for theatre, concerts and stage events. more... |
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MS |
| A stereo recording technique that uses of two different types of microphones, a directional or cardioid for the M facing forward and an omni-directional or figure-eight for the S with the lobes at a 90 degree angle. The main advantage being that the center sounds are not 45 degrees off-axis eliminating the gap in XY recording. Initially there were problems more... |
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Multi Effects |
| Multi effects applies to any outboard audio effects hardware that is capable of processing the signal through more than one effect. In modern effects hardware multi effects are more common and usually include many different effects by which the audio can be processed. more... |
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Ohm |
| A unit of measurement for the electrical resistance equal to that of a conductor in which a current of one ampere is produced by a potential of one volt across its terminals. One ohm is the resistance in a circuit when one volt maintains a current of one amp. The unit, originally ohma or ohmad, was first used by Charles Tilston Bright and Latimer Clark in more... |
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Other Effect |
| Any audio effect not otherwise defined or described. more... |
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Outboard Effects |
| Outboard effects hardware is generally used to artificially enhanced or processes sounds or audio signals to artistically emphasize or place the content into a more appropriate signal. more... |
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Over 10000 Lumens |
| A projector that produces over 10000 lumens of light. more... |
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PAR |
| PAR is an acronym referring to "Parabolic Aluminized Reflector" which describes the mirror configuration. PAR lights resemble car headlights. They possess a lens, but the lens is an integral part of the lamp and its position relative to the filament canno more... |
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Patch Bays |
| A patch bay is a panel, usually rack mounted, that uses cable connections to allow technicians to quickly change the physical path of a select signal. Generally, shorter patch cables will plug into front of the panel, while the back will have have much longer connections to more permanent cables and equipment. more... |
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Pattern |
| Pattern refers to the shape, quality and evenness of a lamp's output. The pattern of light an instrument makes is largely determined by three factors. The first are the specifics of the bulb, reflector and lens assembly. Different mounting positions for the bulb (axial, base up, base down), different sizes and shapes of reflector and the nature of the lens ( more... |
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Plasma |
| A plasma display panel is a type of flat panel display with many tiny cells located between two panels of glass holding an inert mixture of gases like neon and xenon. The gas is electrically turned into a plasma which then excites phosphors that emit light. more... |
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Platforms |
| Some stages are made up of many smaller table like platforms so they can be easily transported or stored. These platforms are generally used in the forming of large stages, are fastened together, come in different hights and widths and have different materials for their surface, like woods and canvases. more... |
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Polarity |
| The polarity of an object is, in general, its physical alignment. The term is often used to describe the positive and negative ends of batteries and magnets. In cell biology, polarity refers to cells not being point-symmetrical in their spatial organization. This is particularly evident for cells organized in single cell layers that separate organs or subco more... |
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Power Distro |
| A power distro send power evenly and appropriately to various staging and rigging equipment to insure there is enough power to properly run the various equipment. more... |
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Pre-Amp |
| A preamp amplifies a low level signal to normal line level before it is processed further and amplified further. It is generally used to give a boost to signals coming from Mics, Turntables and other audio equipment that has no amperage to the signal it produces. more... |
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Pre-Rig |
| Pre-rig Trusses have bars with lights and other gear attached so that they can be lowered into a suitable operating position for a show or raised to store or transport without having to remove the gear from the truss. more... |
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Preset Boards |
| Preset boards are the most basic lighting consoles - and also the most prevalent in smaller installations. They consist of two identical fader banks, called 'scenes.' The faders (control slides) on these scenes can be manually adjusted. Each scene has the same number of channels which control the same dimmers, but only one is live at a time, so the console o more... |
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Prime Lens |
| A lens whose focal length is fixed. Prime lenses are not as versatile as zoom lenses, but are generally superior in optical quality. This is due to the simplisity of design with fewer moving parts that can be optimized for one specific focal length. more... |
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Processor Units |
| A processor unit is an individual piece of equipment, usually a computer, used to process editing infomation. more... |
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Protocol |
| In computing, a protocol is a convention or standard that controls or enables the connection, communication, and data transfer between two computing endpoints. In its simplest form, a protocol can be defined as the rules governing the syntax, semantics, and synchronization of communication. Protocols may be implemented by hardware, software, or a combination more... |
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Pyro |
| Pyrotechnics are chemical explosive or flammable firework effects with a manual detonation, usually electrically fired by special fail safe equipment. There are many different kinds of pyrotechnics and they are primarily used to enhance a theatrical or musical performances with flashes, smoke, loud bangs and flaming light shows. While similar to fireworks, p more... |
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Rack Module |
| A dimmer rack module is an individual dimmer designed to be installed in a dimmer rack. more... |
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Recording |
| Sound or audio recording is the electrical or mechanical encoding of sound waves and audio signals, usually voice or music for the purpose of reproducing the sounds at a later time. There are two basic types of recording, analog in which the signal is variable and continuous, and digital in which the signal is first converted into a binary language. more... |
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Revelation of Form |
| Altering the perception of shapes onstage, particularly three-dimensional stage elements. more... |
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Reverb |
| Reverb is an audio effect that reproduces the many echos that occur when a sound is produced in an enclosed space where the sound is reflected repeatedly by the boundaries of the enclosure, even after the source of the sound stops. The number of echos and the duration of the echos can be varied and with some modern effects units, the shape of the enclosure c more... |
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Rigging Hardware |
| Rigging Hardware applies to all the pins, hooks and other pieces used to connect and hoist gear into place. more... |
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Roofs |
| A roof is part of a stage used to provide shade and protection from the weather to the performers below. more... |
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Scaffolding |
| Scaffolding is a temporary platform or framework, either supported from below or suspended, that is used to support people and material during the set up and deconstruction of a stage or venue. more... |
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Scanner |
| A common term for a moving mirror stage/concert light. This light in particular is common is clubs, discos and lounges. As opposed to the moving head lights that are more common for theatre, concerts and stage events. more... |
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Scanners |
| A scanner is an intelligent light that uses a mirror to perform a large variety of effects and operations while the fixture itself remains stationary. Scanners are generally remotely controlled by a lighting control console, but some can be preprogrammed. A single scanner can replace the functions of many conventional lights and can often perform tasks conv more... |
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Scoop Light |
| Scoop lights or Scoops are circular fixtures that do not have any lenses. They have a reflector at the back of the fixture that directs the light out of the fixture. Since they do not have any sort of lens system they are cheaper than other fixtures. However, the downside of this makes it so that you can not focus the light at all (even PAR's allow for more more... |
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Screens |
| Highly reflective screen used for projectors to provide a better, clearer surface or an image to be projected on to. more... |
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Small Format Mixers |
| Small format mixers are audio mixers having 24 or less channels for input/output. more... |
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Smoke Machine |
| A Smoke Machine or Fogger is an electrical device that creates clouds of artificual and hopefully non-toxic fog. The fog may come in different colors or smells and may be water or mineral based. It is used for effects in theatre, staging, concerts and clubs. Hazers by contrast create a more diffusive, expansive haze that is usually not a thick and is used more... |
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Software Console |
| Softare Lighting Consoles act just like hardware lighting consoles except that they are software driver and usually run off of a desktop or laptop computer accompanied by a DMX converter. Lighting control consoles (also called lighting boards or lighting desks) are electronic devices used in theatrical lighting design to control multiple lights at once. They more... |
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Speaker |
| A speaker is a device that converts an electrical signal into the equivalent air vibrations in order to make audible sound. more... |
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Stage Lighting |
| Modern stage lighting is a flexible tool in the production of theatre, dance, opera and other performance arts. Several different types of lighting instruments are used in the pursuit of the various principles or goals of lighting. more... |
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Stages |
| A stage is a designated space for the performance of theatrical productions or other live events. Some stages are permanent structures in theaters, but often stages are temporary structures built for outdoor events and can range is size from small 20 to 30 square foot structures to very large arena sized stages assembled from many components. more... |
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Staging |
| Staging is the process and art of selecting, designing, or modifying the performance space for a given purpose, be it theatrical, television, film or concert production. more... |
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Stairs |
| Stairs are used to access the stage and raised parts of the stage. They are usually collapsable for the purposes of storage and transportation. more... |
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Stepper Motor |
| A stepper motor is a type of electric motor that is used when something has to be positioned very precisely or rotated by an exact angle. In a stepper motor, an internal rotor containing permanent magnets is controlled by a set of stationary electromagnets that are switched electronically. Hence, it is a cross between a DC electric motor and a solenoid. St more... |
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Strip Light |
| Strip lights, also known as Cyclorama (Cyc) lights are long housings typically containing multiple lamps arranged along the length of the instrument and emitting light perpendicular to its length. Lamps are often covered with individual gels of multiple c more... |
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Subs |
| A sub or subwoofer is a speaker dedicated to the reproduction of bass frequencies, usually from about 20 Hz to about 200 Hz. more... |
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Subtractive Color |
| Subtractive color explains the theory of mixing paints, dyes, inks, and natural colorants to create colors which absorb some wavelengths of light and reflect others. The color that an object appears to have is based on what parts of the electromagnetic spectrum are reflected by it, or conversely by what parts of the spectrum are not absorbed. Anything that more... |
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Touring Systems |
| A touring system is generally a rack unit designed for easy of mobility, set up and repair to be taken on tour and can include lighting, audio and staging equipment. more... |
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Towers |
| Towers are truss like structures used to support roofs and other trussing systems. more... |
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Triangular |
| A triangular truss is so named because of its triangular shape, having three main support bars. more... |
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Truss |
| A truss is a static structure consisting of straight slender members interconnected at joints into triangular units used for spanning or bracing structural elements. more... |
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Tungsten |
| Tungsten (formerly wolfram) is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol W (L. wolframium) and atomic number 74. A very hard, heavy, steel-gray to white transition metal, tungsten is found in several ores including wolframite and scheelite and is remarkable for its robust physical properties. The pure form is used mainly in electrical appl more... |
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Video |
| Video is the technology of electromagnetically recording, processing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of images that represent scenes in motion. more... |
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Volt |
| A unit in the international system representing the electric potential and electromotive force equal to the difference of electric potential between two points on a conducting wire carrying a constant current of one ampere when the power dissipated between the points is one watt. Named after Alessandro Volta for his work with batteries, the term was adopted more... |
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Watt |
| An international system for the measurement of the amount of power used by a device, usually electrical in nature, equal to one joule per second or one ampere of current flowing at one volt. The watt is named after James Watt for his contributions to the development of the steam engine and in turn its contribution to electrical power. more... |
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Wavelength |
| The distance from one point, usually the crest, on a vibrating wave to the same point on the next wave. The shorter the wavelength the higher the frequency and the more directional the wave and vice versa. Commonly designated by the Greek letter lambda (?), wavelengths are usually measured in Angstroms. more... |
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White Noise |
| A random audio signal with a flat power spectral density that contains noise at the same level at all frequencies. The signal's spectral density has equal power in any band and at any frequency in a given bandwidth. White noise is similar to white light which contains all frequencies. White noise is often used in the field of architectural acoustics to ma more... |
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Windshield |
| Foam cover for microphones that reduces the interferance caused by wind and breath allowing the microphone to pick up the desired sounds. more... |
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Wing |
| A breakout box or extension console that expands the current consoles capabilities by adding additional tactile faders and controls. Generally applied to lighting control consoles and adapted from a theater term used to describe the sides of the stage not visible to the audience where the actors make their entrances. more... |
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Wings and Processors |
| Wings and processors are used to extend the capabilities of lighting control consoles. Wings usually add faders, bump buttons, displays, and other functions to the console while processors consolidate, alter, redirect or synchronize the signals coming to and from the console. Consoles often have wings designed specifically for use with that console, but proc more... |
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Working Lights |
| Stage or auditorium lights, independent of the main theatrical system, used during rehearsals and while the crew sets up or breaks down the stage. Also, low wattage lights used to illuminate offstage obstacles and props tables unseen by the audience. more... |
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Wrap |
| A term used in Rigging for a short sling used to wrap a beam or truss or the action of wrapping a truss. In film and television production WRAP is an acronym for Wind Reel And Print and announces the end of a scene or session. more... |
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WYSIWYG |
| Acronym for "What You See Is What You Get," that is used in computing to describe a system where the content during editing appears very similar to the final product. Often employed in the context of software tools for lighting design and production administration or applied to TTL (through the lens) camera systems where the viewfinders have 100% film frame more... |
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Xenon Lamp |
| A type of discharge lamp with high output generally used in Strobe lights and flashes, though sometimes found in some followspots. These lamps utilize an internal electrical discharge passed between electrodes suspended in xenon gas. Xenon lamps have a color temperature of between 5600 - 6500°K and produce extremely intense, incoherent, full-spectrum white more... |
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XGA |
| Extended Graphics Array is a standard computer display introduced in 1990 by IBM. The initial version of XGA built upon IBM's VGA, adding support for two resolutions, 800 × 600 pixels with high color and 1024 × 768 pixels with a palette of 256 colors. XGA-2 was developed later and with 1024 x 768 pixels with high color, and 1360 x 1024 with 16 colors. Howe more... |
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XLR |
| A type of rugged multipin metallic connector for sound and lighting equipment generally having 3 pins for audio applications and 5 pins for DMX lighting. XLR plugs are very effective at reducing data and noise errors because a comparison is made between the signals carried by two of data cables, canceling out any differences. This relationship has given ri more... |
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XY |
| A stereo recording technique using two identical cardioid or directional microphones placed next to each other at an angle of 90 degrees. This method is employed to overcome the coverage problems of AB recording. The main disadvantage being that audio from the center of the stage arrives at a 45 degree angle to the mics where the response is not as efficie more... |
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Yoke |
| The metal strip running over the top and on both sides of a light to which the G-Clamp is attached. more... |
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Zirconium Lamp |
| A high intensity point source arc lamp using a zirconium oxide cathode in an argon-filled bulb. Used in powerful projectors because of its low emanation of long-wavelength light and its concentrated source. Similar to the Drummond light or Limelight, but differing from them chiefly in the employment of cones of zirconium instead of cylinders of lime. It h more... |
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Zoetrope |
| Early device for creating the illusion of continuous motion. A sequence of still pictures was viewed rapidly through slits in a rotating drum so that the images appeared to merge. more... |
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Zone Focusing |
| Technique for focusing a lens so that the field depth extends over a predetermined scope of distances making an entire area, or zone, in focus rather than one specific subject. more... |
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Zone System |
| A unique method introduced by photographers Ansel Adams and Fred Archer around 1940 for determining the best exposure and correct development for an individual photograph by way of analysiing the subjects luminosities in terms of ten gray tones or “zones” labled 0 to IX or zero to nine and visualizing them as print densities. The zone system gives photograp more... |
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Zoom Ellipsoidal |
| A type of profile spot with two lenses allowing the adjustment of both the size of the beam and whether it is a hard or soft focus. This adjustment of focal length makes for an instrument with many uses around the stage. The flexibility is also vital when working with gobos. Also known (in the US) as a Zoom Ellipsoidal. more... |
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Zoom Flash |
| A flash with the capability of adjusting the width of its beam to accurately fit the angle of the lens being used. more... |
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Zoom Lens |
| A mechanical assembly of lens elements with the capability to vary its focal length allowing for a closer or farther view of a subject, without changing perspective. Zoom lenses are often described by the ratio of their focal lengths from longest to shortest. A 100mm to 400mm zoom may be described as a 4:1 or 4× zoom. more... |
