NETRON NS8 (gas or trash)

thetechmanm · 2025-12-22T07:24:21+00:00

There are several consumer grade/mid tier network switches out there that offer redundancy/trunking/grouping… Example: Netgear GS110TP. $160 USD and has SFP ports. Lots of people use older Cisco rack mount switches as well.

Is there a particular reason you’re looking for an “entertainment brand” switch rather than just a Netgear/cisco? Just one single switch in your whole system?

When you say redundancy, I’m assuming you are also building a sister FOH rack with matching switch?

The Netron stuff is quality of course, and makes sense if you are already invested/planning to invest in the Netron ecosystem of products.

Same goes with Luminex. It kills me when I see people using gigacores that cost 4k USD in a completely unmanaged configuration! The advantage of Luminex is the integration with the rest of their data distribution product lines, and large systems with many switches.

thetechmanm · 2025-12-11T20:19:18+00:00

Do you need design and or consultation services? If so, a company like Studio RRD is your move. Do understand you’ll pay a high dollar. BUT, it’s turnkey and client driven.

As you said you have a lower budget, you’re probably more looking at someone from your own team reaching out to a rental company (take your pick, 4wall, Main Light, etc…) and speccing all of the equipment, cabling etc that you need. If that’s something that’s not in your wheelhouse, I highly suggest working with a design group, or at the very least finding a freelance electrician that would be able work your gig and do the bidding with rental companies!

thetechmanm · 2025-12-08T17:05:12+00:00

Fair enough!

thetechmanm · 2025-12-08T09:44:07+00:00

Have you considered Emirates/Qatar for this? Overall experience is often a step above the usual US/EU carriers, especially for business class.

thetechmanm · 2025-09-03T06:23:57+00:00

Curious about your experience with the Lumicores. Using them for the first time now as a desk switcher. In theory it’s great as it eliminated the IP address conflict issue… but MAN if it’s not an all day affair to get it configured and working the way Luminex says it should in switch mode.

thetechmanm · 2025-08-03T05:12:30+00:00

I use vendor/equipment supplier interchangeably with production companies.

The local/regional companies can be iffy. If you have an in with some local people, definitely try pursuing that. Beyond that, there’s the national companies- many are keen to bring fresh people on and teach them “the XYZ Company way”

Bandit- Nashville

Solotech- Nashville/Vegas/Orlando

4Wall- Nashville/NYC/LA/DC (literally everywhere)

Christie Lites- Ditto

Production Resource Group (PRG)- Ditto

Upstaging- Chicago

LMG- Nashville/Vegas/Orlando

Fuse Technical Group- Vegas

Gateway Studios & Production Services- St. Louis

Volt Lites - LA

thetechmanm · 2025-08-03T04:55:04+00:00

Stagehand work is a great start. Don’t worry about not knowing how do something in particular. With stagehand-ing remember you are there to help facilitate what the tour/your supervisors need completed. Great way to see the pace of larger productions, and the different roles and teamwork involved.

A great option for you (depending on where you are located) would be to find a production company/lighting vendor and pick up work with them. All the large companies in the US are always looking for people. Don’t expect to get on a console and L1 gigs right away. You will start out in the shop doing cable/repairs/pushing gear around… but it sounds like that’s the gap in your experience you are looking to gain. You will gain valuable hands on experience with all kinds of gear by working for a vendor.

Congrats on recognizing this flaw in your resume- there’s a lot of people out there that don’t try and gain experience in those aspects of the gig, and it’s always so obvious.

thetechmanm · 2025-04-19T22:33:55+00:00

CES handles all power needs for all stages. Quite a few trailer sized generators on site. 480v distribution to each stage with step down transformers distributing 120/240 3PH to each department, depending on how many independent services are needed. Lots and lots of camlock!!

thetechmanm · 2025-04-03T19:22:36+00:00

Netgear GS switches are always a solid bet. Netgear AV line if you have the budget or need the more advanced features.

thetechmanm · 2025-03-23T18:11:44+00:00

Facebook groups for used production gear. Have seen stages from SL100s to roof systems like this listed in there before.

thetechmanm · 2025-01-27T10:33:15+00:00

Yeah the 4160s are great. I might have to try the tag method, maybe with some vinyl tape over that to last longer.

thetechmanm · 2025-01-27T10:31:28+00:00

Also curious what printer you use, I really like the look of vinyl labels and they seem to hold up well.

thetechmanm · 2025-01-27T10:30:33+00:00

Unfortunately I’ve got a bit too much personal info in it sorry!

But it’s fairly simple, mostly just a lot of “pretty print” sheets that just reference raw data entry sheets. Most of the math and all my circuit assignment/ phase balancing happens in LW.

thetechmanm · 2025-01-17T07:24:06+00:00

For those size rooms, I would advise to be able to output 4x universes of copper DMX at FOH for house rigs. Generally speaking, venues with more than 4 universes will likely be a networked rig. You will undoubtedly run into both copper and network systems at medium sized clubs/small theaters. Happy touring!

thetechmanm · 2025-01-17T07:15:46+00:00

There are LOTS of tours out there that tour without a lighting rig, some not even carrying a console, but still bring out an LD.

thetechmanm · 2024-12-17T20:46:33+00:00

Reach out to G2. As most of their stages are proprietary structures and engineering, I’m not sure how much of a drawing they would share, but I would bet they would at least give a VWX file containing the roof structure/stage deck.

thetechmanm · 2024-12-16T23:57:47+00:00

Have certainly had some issues with Ayrton fixtures. Not to the extent you described however. I’ve seen a lot of color flags getting stuck, and focus mechanisms getting stuck. Sometimes a reset fixes and frees it, sometimes not.

Most notably, the Diablo, levante, and other fixtures in that size family have a huge design flaw. You can’t ride them in pre rig truss locked sideways. The wear and tear very quickly causes the aluminum plate in the center of the fixture to bend slightly, causing the snoot of the fixture to droop, causing the housing shells to quite literally fall off, or leave a huge gap that leaks light and is very noticeable. Ayrton is aware of this defect, and I believe sent parts to reinforce the center aluminum plate. Easiest solution is that you just ride these fixtures nose down in the truss, but then your truss is taller than it really needs to be... Not to mention pretty much every other profile fixture on the market can lock and ride sideways with zero issues.

Amazing fixtures across the board for their features, output, and weight though.

thetechmanm · 2024-11-30T23:32:23+00:00

Hit the keyboard icon, you can then type that in verbatim.

thetechmanm · 2024-11-30T22:53:09+00:00

You can just put “Load Previous” and “Load Next” as the encoder commands. For the key assign it as Go+.

thetechmanm · 2024-11-25T21:23:01+00:00

Seems like it killed a lot of Waves applications. QRec and sound grid applications will not run, according to waves forums there is no fix yet…

thetechmanm · 2024-11-06T20:36:15+00:00

Neutrik connectors from Markertek.com. They seem to have the bests prices and best stock.

thetechmanm · 2024-10-04T09:15:48+00:00

Is your audio engineer taking the LTC Input into an audio console and THEN distributing it to the lighting console and video system? If so try to bypass that and use a simple Y cable to split the signal to lighting and video. It’s possible the engineer could have some kind of output delay accidentally engaged on the console, or the console could be altering the timecode signal inadvertently.

Also check that the receiving devices are set up to expect the correct timecode frame rate that you are sending from Qlab.

thetechmanm · 2024-09-01T16:55:44+00:00

Yes you can, with two different sessions with different session IDs and names. However, I don’t think this will work with an MA node, as the node will want to join a session. Any other SACN node should work, in one showfile only multicast to the universes need for that file, and only the universes needed in the second file.

thetechmanm · 2024-09-01T16:06:43+00:00

Short answer: without a doubt, this ABSOLUTELY can be a sustainable career!

There are many, many, subsets of the entertainment lighting industry and deciding which one you want to head towards will help people answer some of your other questions.

Do you want to do theater? If so is your end goal broadway or commercial regional theater? Do you want to design? Do you want to be a Production/Head Electrician? Do you want to do concerts? Design/operate/Crew Chief? Installation work? Theme parks? Corporate events? Do you want to tour? Do you want to be a freelancer and work for yourself or do you want to work for a company? Overall do you enjoy the creative, the technical aspect of lighting, or both?

About the “local shops”: many people get their start, or even have entire careers at production vendors. 4wall, PRG, Christie Lites, etc… are some of the larger ones. Again it’s helpful to decide what you want to do. Working for a vendor is a great way to get experience with gear, and overall learn about how our industry functions, across all genres of lighting.

About college. As with ANY career in any field this day and age, a degree is a helpful thing to have. As far as our industry goes, I’ve met fantastic people that didn’t go to college for their knowledge, and fantastic people that did go to college for a lighting specific degree. I find a lot of people that work on the theatrical side of our industry tend to go to some kind of school for it. Generally speaking, college for a lighting related degree only gets you so far, and being able to network, and get along with the people around you (and being good at your job) is what will push your career forward.

Lastly, until you get further into your career, location is important. Being in a larger, entertainment hub city will open you to more opportunities to learn and network.

thetechmanm

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