What are some tips and tricks for programming moving lights and effects in stage lighting?

1 Use cues to organize your scenes

Cues are the basic building blocks of your lighting show, as they store the information about the intensity, color, position, and movement of your lights at a given moment. You can create cues manually or automatically, depending on your console and software, and assign them to different faders or buttons for easy access. You can also edit, copy, delete, and reorder cues as needed. Using cues can help you organize your scenes and transitions, and save time and memory.

2 Use groups to select your lights

Groups are a convenient way to select multiple lights of the same type or function, without having to individually address them. For example, you can create a group for all your moving heads, or for all your front wash lights, or for all your strobes. You can then apply changes or effects to the whole group, or to subsets of the group, with a single command. Using groups can help you simplify your programming and avoid mistakes.

3 Use palettes to store your presets

Palettes are a useful way to store your favorite or frequently used settings for your lights, such as colors, positions, gobos, or beam shapes. You can create palettes for different parameters or combinations of parameters, and recall them whenever you need them. You can also update or modify palettes as you go, and link them to your cues or effects. Using palettes can help you speed up your programming and create consistency and harmony in your lighting design.

4 Use effects engines to create dynamic movements and patterns

Effects engines are powerful tools that can generate complex and dynamic movements and patterns for your lights, such as chases, waves, fans, or shapes. You can use the built-in effects engines of your console or software, or create your own custom effects with parameters such as speed, size, direction, offset, and phase. You can also layer, blend, or synchronize effects with other cues or sounds. Using effects engines can help you add variety and excitement to your lighting show.

5 Use MIDI controllers to control your lights in real time

MIDI controllers are devices that can send MIDI signals to your console or software, and allow you to control your lights in real time. You can use MIDI controllers such as keyboards, pads, knobs, faders, or pedals to trigger cues, change parameters, adjust levels, or create live effects. You can also map MIDI controllers to different functions or channels of your lights, and customize them to suit your preferences and needs. Using MIDI controllers can help you enhance your creativity and flexibility in your lighting programming.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?