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Topic: Automated NEC projector switch on

Carsten Kurz
Film God

Posts: 4340
From: Cologne, NRW, Germany
Registered: Aug 2009

posted 01-30-2014 06:12 AM

There are certainly pro's and con's for 'external' and internal automation.

What Mark means, and I second that, is that external devices add complexity in a less apprehensive user interface, and with a need to coordinate external and sever based cues/signals. In simpler words, you have to watch and configure 'two' devices instead of one. For smaller operations, single screens, etc., doing as much as possible with the server functions seems to be the better option. I know a lot of cinemas where projectionists do not touch their dedicated automation systems unnecessary often. The software/GUI approach of the servers is just easier for them.

- Carsten

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 01-30-2014 11:20 AM

I haven't seen any showmanship issues in any of our systems. We have a small town twin with waterfall curtains and everything...everything is timed just so and they can still place their cues to accommodate any movie they want.

I'm sticking with an external automation for automation...it is cleaner and easier for all concerned...very minimal cues for the show too.

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 01-30-2014 12:05 PM

IMHO Showmanship has to include being able to taylor everythng about the operation of your theater based on the movie you're playing. Back in the days whewn Showmanship was a big deal they were quite specific on how a film should be presented... when the curtain should open full, what level the lights were to be at and when, etc, etc. Sure you can do that with fixed automation but not very easily or inexpensively. Heck, if someone ever gets their act together and brings in ethernet controled light dimmers then automation boxes will be a thing of the past. Fixed automation certainly represents job security for the technician though because every change a theater owner wants is gonna have to be done by the technician. Where as a flexible fully equipped theater is best served by it's own staff.

What steve is also overlooking is that when cueing on the time line of a server it can also be done with very minimal cues. In short, you're really don't have to even use cues at all per say. You're usng short shows containing the cues. "Scope Show Start", "Flat Show Start", "Blew Rae Start' "Preshow Start", "Show end". And if ya wanna be really cool "Intermission Begin" And "Intermission End".

Or one can certainly use seperate individual cues as the show is built up if one wants to, they are right there in front of you! I see about half and half among my customers going each way. No fixed operation automations any place. Those went to the dump with the old film equipment.

Mark

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 01-30-2014 02:30 PM

It has nothing to do with job security...it has to do with reliability, repeatability and...in the end, showmanship. Each show is perfect...perfectly timed, perfectly executed. There is nothing that stops the end user from doing discrete commands but using the automation certainly simplifies it a lot and allows each person to put on an equivalent show.

Even our Ethernet based dimmers (e.g. Lutron) use the eCNA automation in our systems. Eprad also has their own dimmers that can be part of the automation (eCNA10).

To each their own, I guess.

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