Customer Reviews

The Automated Lighting Programmer's Handbook

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The author spells out, in common terminology, the basics of programming moving lights for theatre, concerts, television, festivals, and industrials.

I teach at a University and our lighting intro class should be reading the first three chapters even without any need for the automated fixture information. This book has the clearest explanation I've ever seen in print of the difference between tracking and cue-only lighting consoles.

Hands down, this is the best book for aspiring and practicing automated programmers available today. It's full of very useful and practical ideas, tips, observations and recommendations. Any programmer who is mindful of raising their game should have a copy and read it regularly.

A great book that is not to technical and shows some real world ideas and solutions

I have been in the concert production business for a couple of years and this is a great book to have around.

The tips, tricks and techniques have been invaluable for both conventional and moving lighting programming. An excellent purchase for anyone interested in a more organized production. Very well organized, and generalized to facilitate programming virtually any console or utilizing any instrument.

While specific manufacturers are mentioned, they are not covered in great detail. This book is a wonderful suppliment to any programmers library, but cannot replace a thourough understanding of console syntax that is only obtained through expereience and reading console system manuals.

Buying this book to expand my knowledge into this area, I found it a bit thin. It feels stretched to me - like a padded long article. The info about cue types was good, but I'm sure it's covered in user manuals, and the insistence on avoiding mention of specific products diluted the rest of it too much for my liking. I think picking a console and fixtures, even if it's one per chapter, would allow a little more detail. As it is, readable, but unsatisfying.

Certainly room for another edition, hopefully with more detail. I should note that I'm not a beginner, I've been programming other aspects of shows for decades. Possibly a beginner would get more out of it. I gave it more stars because it covers the exact topic I was looking for.

Pros:
-The text provides sage advice. I very much appreciate the author's "Rule #9" which basically states that if you do not understand how to create "an effect or look ... admit it" (xxv). Love it! I wish more people in the industry took that credo to heart.
-The author's writing is occasionally playful. It's refreshing to have a text that doesn't mire itself in lingo and jargon. (With that said, I'm not a fan of the "Life is Like a Box of Chocolates" heading (125). I'm pretty sure that should never be uttered or written ever again.)
-Chapter 13 "Words of Wisdom from Industry Professionals." It provides a wide array of advice from both programmers and designers.

Potential Cons:
-I must concur with one of the previous reviews: I did expect a bit more of an in-depth study for nearly $40.00.
-It features precious few examples (and even fewer photos of the end-product).
-A few editing errors here and there. The bold-type heading "Stay as Cool as You Fan" was a particularly startling typo that should have been caught by the publisher (61). Editing errors like this do undermine the text's authority. (My own students love to point them out ... which is insanely annoying.)

This text could prove a valuable supplement to your professional library. However, if I were selecting my texts for the semester, I would probably skip this one and order a slightly more expensive but extensive study.

Good overall lighting book. I would recommend this for anyone looking to get into the technical side of lighting. The theatrical side was a bit lacking, but overall a great book for learning.

This book is must have for every Lighting Programmer and LD! As of 1/2 way through I decided that it would be required reading for my Programmers and Lighting Interns. It reminded me of things I had forgotten, and gave me some fresh ideas on how to make my workflow faster. It is being passed around my crew, and I don't for-see it sitting on my bookshelf very much. The journals in the back are really cool and almost worth the cost of the book. I am a Hog2 user, and it was cool to see how others are using the same desk.

Thank you!
Austin Taylor
[...]

For anyone interested in lighting programming techniques, this book is a must. For theater, industry, large projects, and even home uses, you can learn a lot from this book. And for students, a very comprehesive manual that not only can help you get started, but will be useful for many years.