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---------------------------------------------------

Stagecraft Digest, Issue #233

 1. Re: Aluminized Mylar
    by "Wayne Rasmussen" <rasmuw [at] blair.edu>
 2. Re: Aluminized Mylar
    by Bruce Purdy <bpurdy [at] rochester.rr.com>
 3. DMX question
    by Bruce Purdy <bpurdy [at] rochester.rr.com>
 4. Re: DMX question
    by FrankWood95 [at] aol.com
 5. Re: DMX question
    by Ben <ben.travis [at] gmail.com>
 6. Re: weapon sources
    by "Karel Blakeley" <blakeley [at] lemoyne.edu>
 7. Re: Tuscon arena
    by CB <psyd [at] cox.net>
 8. Re: Fire in Tucson Convention Center Arena
    by CB <psyd [at] cox.net>
 9. Re: DMX question
    by David Duffy <david [at] audiovisualdevices.com.au>
10. Re: DMX question
    by Kyle Dugger <kmdugger [at] earthlink.net>
11. Re: DMX question
    by Stephen Litterst <slitterst [at] ithaca.edu>

*** Please update the subject line of your reply to use the subject
*** line of the message you are replying to! Please only reply to
*** one message subject in each reply.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message-ID: <001901c4e5de$69de4010$0617000a [at] blair.edu>
From: "Wayne Rasmussen" <rasmuw [at] blair.edu>
Subject: RE: Aluminized Mylar
Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 10:21:29 -0500

Frank Wood wrote:

>>Fit a temporary diagonal brace to the frame. This is what builders and
carpenters do with door frames. Then remove it, and apply the skin.

This is what I have done before.  I'm trying to save some time and effort.
In addition, I have used 1x4 pine with toggles every 4' (trying to save
weight) so there are some slight inconsistencies in the stiles and rails,
which I'd like to straighten pre-shrinkage.  To make those sides straighter
will require a lot of extra work.

Wayne Rasmussen
Blair Academy


------------------------------

Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 10:59:22 -0500
Subject: Re: Aluminized Mylar
From: Bruce Purdy <bpurdy [at] rochester.rr.com>
Message-ID: <BDEB0F8A.4A81%bpurdy [at] rochester.rr.com>
In-Reply-To: <list-9525744 [at] prxy.net>

> I've wondered if baking them in a huge enough oven would allow the Mylar
> to stretch evenly to the frame, which could already be skinned, as you
> suggest.  Every day on the way to work, I pass such an 'oven.'  It's used by
> the collision repair place to dry the paint on the cars after the spraying.
> I may never have the budget to try the experiment, however.  Such is life.
> dt 

    Interesting idea! Not having worked with the Heat Shrink Mylar, I'm not
in a position to comment on that, but I might have a budget saving
suggestion.

    I don't know about other places, but here we have regional BOCES (Board
of Co-operative Educational Services) campuses that serve the public school
districts. Amongst other things, they offer vocational training - including
Auto Body work. Our local BOCES campus has such an oven and it might be
cheaper than a commercial body shop.

    I'm not sure that it would be long enough to hold an 18' long flat
though.

Bruce 
-- 
Bruce Purdy
Technical Director
Smith Opera House


------------------------------

Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 11:12:10 -0500
Subject: DMX question
From: Bruce Purdy <bpurdy [at] rochester.rr.com>
Message-ID: <BDEB1289.4A83%bpurdy [at] rochester.rr.com>

    I have a question that I'm hoping someone more DMX knowledgeable than I
might answer.

    When I installed our new (used) Dimming system, I installed an XLR-5
connector on the cabinet, and runs of control cable to the projection / spot
booth and to FOH. I currently plug in whichever cable I need.

    I'm wondering whether they could both be hard wired into the cabinet or
would the unused cable run cause "Termination" problems.

    I know that the downstream end of a DMX run needs to be terminated -
what about the Upstream end?

    It's a Colortran ENR system if that makes a difference.

TIA
Bruce 
-- 
Bruce Purdy
Technical Director
Smith Opera House



------------------------------

From: FrankWood95 [at] aol.com
Message-ID: <a9.691e46aa.2ef71fa5 [at] aol.com>
Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 13:17:09 EST
Subject: Re: DMX question

In a message dated 19/12/04 16:12:53 GMT Standard Time, 
bpurdy [at] rochester.rr.com writes:

>     When I installed our new (used) Dimming system, I installed an XLR-5
>  connector on the cabinet, and runs of control cable to the projection / 
spot
>  booth and to FOH. I currently plug in whichever cable I need.
>  
>      I'm wondering whether they could both be hard wired into the cabinet or
>  would the unused cable run cause "Termination" problems.
>  
>      I know that the downstream end of a DMX run needs to be terminated -
>  what about the Upstream end?

You are currently doing it the safe way, even if it is a little more trouble. 
While trouble is not certain with long runs of unterminated cable, the 
probability is very high, and the effects catastrophic. If you do this on a video 
distribution, an 11m spur will neatly and completely remove the colour 
sub-carrier. A bit longer in the US: this is for a 4.43MHz sub-carrier. As I rermember, 
the NTSC sub-carrier is about 3.8MHz, which would make the length about 13m.

The upstream end will be terminated by the DMX sender, but since DMX 
receivers are sometimes daisy-chained, the termination is often optional. There is 
often a switch somewhere marked 'bridge/terminate'. Check your manual. The 
termination always needs to go at the end of the run.

Frank Wood

------------------------------

Message-ID: <486dbc510412191112c19e706 [at] mail.gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 14:12:14 -0500
From: Ben <ben.travis [at] gmail.com>
Reply-To: Ben <ben.travis [at] gmail.com>
Subject: Re: DMX question
In-Reply-To: <list-9559134 [at] prxy.net>
References: <list-9559134 [at] prxy.net>

Hi Bruce,

Back in my High School, we had a similar setup with the Colortran ENR.
One port FOH, and one in the booth.  Both ran to the rack and were
joined in the rack. There wasn't a DMX merge or anything in the
system.  We had no problems as long as you only used one port at a
time. I don't know if this is the "approved" method, but it was what
the installer did for us years back, and it has worked fine.

HTH,

-ben


On Sun, 19 Dec 2004 11:12:10 -0500, Bruce Purdy <bpurdy [at] rochester.rr.com> wrote:
  I'm wondering whether they could both be hard wired into the cabinet
or  would the unused cable run cause "Termination" problems.
 
 It's a Colortran ENR system if that makes a difference.

------------------------------

Message-Id: <s1c593d0.042 [at] mango.lemoyne.edu>
Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 14:44:06 -0500
From: "Karel Blakeley" <blakeley [at] lemoyne.edu>
Subject: Re: weapon sources

Clark and Jonathan,

Check out Weapons of Choice for your rentals.  They're an excellent
resource and very helpful.  Great prices too.  I've rented all sorts of
things fromt hem over the years.  On-line at
weaponsofchoicetheatrical.com or call them at 707-226-2845.

Good luch with your shows,
 
Karel


From: "Clark Montoya" <montoyac [at] comcast.net>
Subject: Swords needed
Date: Sat, 18 Dec 2004 21:56:06 -0500
Message-ID: <001301c4e576$4bf203b0$6401a8c0 [at] INTEL810XP>

I need a couple of Scimitar Swords for a production of Cosi Fan Tutte. 
Does
anyone know of a good prop house where I can pick up a couple fairly
cheaply?
Thanks

Clark Montoya
Tech Director
Capital City Opera
Atlanta, GA



------------------------------

From: "Jonathan S. Deull" <jdeull [at] clarktransfer.com>
Subject: RE: Swords needed
Date: Sat, 18 Dec 2004 23:09:47 -0500
In-Reply-To: <list-9466850 [at] prxy.net>
Message-ID: <auto-000009475125 [at] prxy.net>

On a similar note, I need a good, dramatic looking, working but safe
stiletto for an upcoming production of Threepenny Opera.  Any sources?

Jonathan Deull
Edmund Burke School
Washington, DC 



Karel Blakeley
Director of Theatre Arts 
Le Moyne College
Syracuse, NY 13214
315-445-4203 office
315-445-6061 fax
blakeley [at] lemoyne.edu

------------------------------

Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.20041219131829.01821ac8 [at] pop.west.cox.net>
Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 13:18:29
From: CB <psyd [at] cox.net>
Subject: RE: Tuscon arena

>soooo, you need water-proof, fire-proof doors?

Well, 'need' might be too strong a word.  IIRC, the Ex-hall is eight feet
higher than than the Arena floor, so if you start pumping water in the
Ex-hall, the Arena becomes a swimming pool.  This is, of course, all based
on the rumour mill here in Tucson, so any resemblance to facts, living or
dead, is purely co-incidental.
				Chris "Chris" Babbie
				Location Sound
				MON AZ

Delete key training and post trimming done by appointment.  Rates
negotiable, will trade for typing lessons/ADD treatment...

------------------------------

Message-Id: <3.0.6.32.20041219132454.01821ac8 [at] pop.west.cox.net>
Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 13:24:54
From: CB <psyd [at] cox.net>
Subject: Re: Fire in Tucson Convention Center Arena

>Also remember that current federal regulations (Safe Explosive Act) say you 
>have to have at LEAST an ATF permit to have "anything that can be made to 
>explode".

Does that mean that craft services has to actually provide cow squeezin's
for coffee unless they have said permit?
				Chris "Chris" Babbie
				Location Sound
				MON AZ

Delete key training and post trimming done by appointment.  Rates
negotiable, will trade for typing lessons/ADD treatment...

------------------------------

Message-ID: <41C5F25E.4070000 [at] audiovisualdevices.com.au>
Date: Mon, 20 Dec 2004 07:27:58 +1000
From: David Duffy <david [at] audiovisualdevices.com.au>
Subject: Re: DMX question
References: <list-9559134 [at] prxy.net>
In-Reply-To: <list-9559134 [at] prxy.net>

Bruce Purdy wrote:

>For info, archives & UNSUBSCRIBE, see <http://stagecraft.theprices.net/>
>---------------------------------------------------
>
>    I have a question that I'm hoping someone more DMX knowledgeable than I
>might answer.
>
>    When I installed our new (used) Dimming system, I installed an XLR-5
>connector on the cabinet, and runs of control cable to the projection / spot
>booth and to FOH. I currently plug in whichever cable I need.
>
>    I'm wondering whether they could both be hard wired into the cabinet or
>would the unused cable run cause "Termination" problems.
>
>    I know that the downstream end of a DMX run needs to be terminated -
>what about the Upstream end?
>  
>

Hi Bruce,
By hard wiring them all together you'll end up with a star topology.
This is not recomended for DMX and is said to cause problems.
A neater solution would be a 2 pole, 3 position rotary switch to
select the feed you want to go to the dimmer racks.
David...


------------------------------

Message-ID: <26339146.1103496033172.JavaMail.root [at] grover.psp.pas.earthlink.net>
Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 16:40:30 -0600 (GMT-06:00)
From: Kyle Dugger <kmdugger [at] earthlink.net>
Reply-To: Kyle Dugger <kmdugger [at] earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: DMX question


A neater solution would be a 2 pole, 3 position rotary switch to
select the feed you want to go to the dimmer racks.
David...

I have used a switch in the past and it seemed to work well.  Another option is that if you dimmer rack has two DMX inputs you could use one for each cable and just address the inputs to allow them access to all dimmers.  This is what I am doing with a dimmer rack.  The "A" input is used for the console and the "B" input is used by the architectural system.  It seems to work rather well.  

kyle dugger

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 22:13:20 -0500 (EST)
From: Stephen Litterst <slitterst [at] ithaca.edu>
Subject: Re: DMX question
In-reply-to: <list-9559134 [at] prxy.net>
Message-id: <1514.172.139.140.94.1103512400.squirrel [at] 172.139.140.94>
References: <list-9559134 [at] prxy.net>

> ---------------------------------------------------

>     When I installed our new (used) Dimming system, I installed an XLR-5
> connector on the cabinet, and runs of control cable to the projection /
> spot
> booth and to FOH. I currently plug in whichever cable I need.
>     I know that the downstream end of a DMX run needs to be terminated -
> what about the Upstream end?
>     It's a Colortran ENR system if that makes a difference.

First thing to check is if the ENR system allows multiple DMX inputs. I
think it was an available option, so hopefully whoever had them originally
got that option.

Failing that, I'd suggst a DMX merger from Pathway, or Doug Fleenor.  This
should ensure that there will be no termination issues between the used
and unused line.

Steve Litterst


------------------------------

End of Stagecraft Digest #233
*****************************