What am I thinking? What are you thinking?

A bit on Networking - and byting off more than I can chew

Let me first say that my prior post on Dan's Rose Colored glasses was all in good fun and the name was entirely inspired by the coloration of the photo in which he appeared. Dan commented that he had a better photo for me.

Notice that he has taken off his glasses!

Dan and I spend a great deal of time talking about Networking. Mostly about the future.

We are promoting a new network, Net 3, and it has been confusing for some. 

First note -- This post is not a "networking bible or stone tablet" for ETC's networking future. It is a description of "what's up" with our networking, from my point-of-view. I think you will find that it is consistent with ETC's plans - but not exhaustive.

Let me address a few questions.

Have you abandoned ETCNet 2? 

No - we have not abandoned ETCNet 2, in fact we have opened up many outside companies to develop on the Net 2 platform and most of our new control products will speak ETCNet 2 and Net 3 simultaneously. ETCNet 2 works great!

Are you ignoring ACN? 

No - we are not ignored ACN. In fact, we spent significant money helping to develop it ()not to mention Dan's time and vision!) and we at ETC strongly believe that the ACN protocol is the future of all "entertainment" networking. We will be promoting it - using it - and teaching others about it.
 

So what's up with Net 3? Why does it exist? Why did we call it that?

First off -- Net 3 is not ACN. ACN is a standard, a protocol description, a plan. Net 3 is a tool, a user experience, a tangible feature set.

But - ACN is a big part of our plan for Net 3. Most (but not all) Net 3 features are built on ACN and Net 3 supports integration with other ACN based networking solutions (when they come around!) We say Net 3 is "powered by ACN."

Net 3 remembers the past while welcoming the future. Many familiar protocols, like EDMX will work on Net 3 networks running newer hardware like Net 3 gateways.

Net 3 strives to solve real lighting problems beyond DMX distribution. See our integration with popular Media servers as an example.

Net 3 is performance tested. We use a system integration lab at ETC to test our equipment - and equipment by others - to insure an acceptable performance  level is reached.

Net 3 supports expansion. This is a big difference from our previous networking protocols - we were tapped out. Net 3 is ripe with possibility. 

Net 3 works with others. That's why we did not call it ETCNet 3. Net 3 supports interoperability with other ACN systems and with protocols like RDM as well.

 While developing Net 3 hardware we tried to keep costs low. That's why our gateways are modular. That's also why we worked with Pathway to develop the One-Port node we were showing at LDI. The One-Port supports the new streaming ACN protocol (soon to be a standard,) as well as ETCNet 2, and provides an inexpensive solution for simple DMX data distribution.

Do I need to upgrade right away? Have I suddenly become a dinosaur on my Net 2 system? 

Net 3 represents a whole new world for ETC customers to discover. Do you need to upgrade? Many will not feel the need. Most people I have talked to are perfectly happy with ETCNet 2 and good ole ETCNet (the original.) For many applications the Net 2 world is great. Over time though, the benefits of bi-directional communication across manufacturers and from product to product will become more self evident. Many of you will add new Net 3 hardware as you upgrade and continue running Net 2 on your existing hardware. The good news is that you can! And most of our new control products will run both networks simultaneously!

So - you won't be left in the past. You needn't rush into the future for fear of becoming a dinosaur. But there are new opportunities waiting for you when you are ready. It is our job (and the job of all other lighting manufacturers) to show you why you need to migrate.

LDI - over

I traveled home on Monday and had the pleasure of saying farewell to the Las Vegas Airport. It was about as much fun as arriving there.

I am always fond of saying that, "LDI is only 3 days in the year." Usually, I utter this to someone saying, "we have to have that at LDI."  It's as if a product does not exist unless it is shown at LDI. I do not subscribe to this point-of-view. We do marketing and sales efforts throughout the year. The Web is a great place to launch a product. There are other trade shows. (We hope to have a new thing or two launched at USITT in 2007) That said - LDI is a great medium for product launches.

This was one of the best LDI's we have ever had at ETC. People were comparing it to 1992. Do you remember 1992? The launch of the Source Four, Sensor and Obsession? I had to stand in line to get on the ETC stand (wasn't an employee at the time.) This year was similar - but the booth was roomier. Thanks for all the visits from our dealers and end-user customers and for all the enthusiasm as well.

I'm interested in other reflections on LDI - please sign up for a user account and post away. This is a dialogue and you are invited to speak.

 
David 

Does Dan Antonuk see the ACN networked world through rose colored glasses?

Or - do I see Dan through Rose colored glasses?

This just in - ACN is now a official ANSII standard! Does Dan look happy? (Dan is the ESTA Standards committee project manager for ACN and a dedicated proponent of the technology.)Dan has really worked hard on ACN. Now the burning question - who will use it? And what will they use it for?

Will dogs and cats lie down together in the ACN world? Strand consoles running  MA dimmers and networked VariLites using ETC network ready Source Fours? What will the newly networked world be like? And when will it be like that?

Stay tuned for more of my opinions on networking in the near future.

David 

Dr. DMX surrenders

I captured the real Dr. DMX today. Doug Fleenor finally succumbed to my chase of him. He surrendered peacefully , hands raised to show he had no digital weaponry.

As I apprehended the suspect - Ken Wagner forced me to see demos of all the latest Fleenor design products.

The were showing an addition to their popular "Preset10" line of DMX capture products called The Rerun. The Rerun comes in two versions - a wall mount preset station style unit and a larger rack mount unit.

The preset style unit captures 10 DMX sequences of up to 40 minutes each at full DMX 512 frame rates. There is a repeat option as well as a one shot play option and the unit works with 1 DMX universe. The rack mounted unit supports 4 universe capture with the playback controls on the front or playback from a preset 10 station. They are using RDM to allow the stations to slave to each other.  A VERY cool product.
 Ken also showed me another RDM "safety" product.

According to Ken (and I believe everything he ever told me)  RDM will cause older DMX dimmers to flicker because they will try to respond to alternate start codes, a critical element of RDM. This inline XLR product strips alternate start codes allowing safe operation. So - you heard it here first - use this safety device with your older DMX dimmers.

David 

The Audience is listening

 The key to a good console demo -- INTENSITY -- or at least you would think that was the key -- watching the hundreds of console demos going on at the ETC booth this weekend.

Micah Rahn of ETC New York appears to have his audience completely engaged - and what an intense look from him (not to mention the fellow on his left!) Go Micah!

 And we are honored to have Ulf Sandstrom doing Congo demos on the booth this year for his first time at LDI with ETC! This Swede started the show by doing his very first demo in Spanish! And look at this intensity. You could see this happening all day long.

Here you see  Spencer Lyons holding court on Eos - but notice on the far right side - Dan Duffy - software developer for Eos paying close attention.

Later in the day Dan steps out -- Watch Duffy closing in on his first console order.

Nicky Pencils has the crowd watching

The next series of demo pictures involve the unique space we all have - the back of your head. Lets start with Joe Bokelman reeling in a crowd as he demos Pharos and Unison integration.

The audience is listening Joe. They cannot see what I see.

Note to David North - see Joes barber soon.

Not known for fluff - in his demos or on his head - David West's customer takes over. That's the way to get them engaged!

Littrell makes them laugh! Always. Don't worry Jerome - I cannot see the back of your head.

Give me a head with hair - long beautiful hair -- Thanks Heidi Stewart - for breaking the cycle.

David Smith - watch the fellow on your left - you may be losing him.

A good demo is great art - many artists were on hand at the ETC booth this year.

David 

An LDI Film loop link

People people everywhere

If there is one thing I love about the lighting industry - it is the people.

A pair of my favorite lighting people - spotted together - talking politics of all things. 

Marshall Bissett of TMB and Jonathan Resnick of Barbizon

Here is Keny Whitright from Wybron - accepting a "best debuting lighting product" award for his infotrace system.

 And Gary Fails of City Theatrical accepting an award for his DMX projector douser.

Both Gary and Keny are extremely committed to the lighting industry and especially to innovation. Gary has proven his mettle time after time by finding special needs and inventing solutions. Wybron has often been on the leading edge - and they are definitely leading with Infotrace, a product which proves that RDM technology will provide a whole new tool chest of information for the technician. 

David Johnsosn seemed a little tense as he officiated the awards ceremony this evening - but he mellowed with the addition of the showgirls.

(One of the showgirls appeared to leave the stage and "faint" late in the ceremony. She appeared to be standing too long with locked knees!)

 Allen Branton graciously accepted the Wally Russell Lifetime Achievement Award for 2006. Allen gave a simple speech with a few road stories. I was most interested in his telling of his father the architect taking him out as a boy to dirt fields and telling him that "this would soon be a library or other building." Allen then worked in the construction process on the buildings later and said it was the first time he had the experience of people working together to create something from nothing. He has made a life of doing that very thing. And what a resume!

And someone near and dear to my heart - Fred Foster - another lifetime of innovation. Fred has constantly worked for the lighting art and has also taken the time to encourage others. He takes time and his own money to encourage students to learn more about our industry. He has built some of the most significant products in lighting and ETC is a great place to work. (Marian Sandberg (behind Fred) refereed the event this evening)

Every industry has its people and I really like our people. 

 David

Another busy day at LDI - lots of fun

I feel the most innovative use of a lighting product was in the BCI booth. Rob Baxter and Brian Cheevers were showing the PAR - B - Q.

Four Source Four Pars cooking meat on a spit! The meal was served up by about 1pm. These guys are innovators in everything they do!

Sorry for the dark picture guys! I set the exposure at ground zero - the meat! They promise a pork loin for Sunday.

As for other products - Leviton introduced their first Leviton branded consoles. They look NSI inspired - with a touch of Colortran. Have not heard the reviews from the demos yet.

And in the "mine is bigger than your category - and winning a best lighting product award - The Lancelot followspot from Robert Juliat.

This guy is big and BRIGHT. Aptly named.

That's all I managed to muster in the product category today. I'll try harder tomorrow as the floor slows down.

David
 

EOS WINS!!!

Yeee HAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eos wins Debuting Lighting product of the year!

Fred graciously accepted the award along with Dennis Varian, Anne Valentino and Dan Duffy. It was a great night for all of us at ETC!

The happy team in Las Vegas was quick to pay tribute to everyone around the world who has worked on the Eos product. As Anne said, "It takes a village . . . "

Now let's birth this baby!!!!

More on Dr. DMX - or his stand in

I keep running in to him - but never in the flesh.

Saw him from the front and then began running into him from behind. 

Then came the final Straw. I guess even the Dr. has to take a potty break.

Bound and determined  to find the real Dr. DMX tomorrow!

David 

End of Day 1

Right Next Door to us at ETC are our friends at Apollo. They are showing their new moving Yoke for any kind of fixture (or anything else for that matter.) It's called the Right Arm. You can see a small photo here. Their promotional video shows it pouring a glass of wine!

LED LED LED LED LED LED LED LED

Did I menion that LED's are all over the show? Well they are. Bright ones too. Some nice displays like this one. What's a customer to do with so many choices?

Our friends at TMB are all fenced in this year. The usual TMB lounge is roped off with a fairly large bouncer standing guard as well. 

I did spot Dr. DMX again. Here he is giving an award to Jaime Duarte of TMB who graciously accepted and thanked the academy as he shed a tear. 

 Innovative use of light. How to make a motorcycle look sexy - or distract you from actually seeing it.  Laser design pulled out all the stops.

And - as I said yesterday - The Ocean Optics gang had a full working kitchen serving food on their booth. 

High End has a stunning exhibit featuring  their digital lights - the DL2. This was pretty hypnotic I must say. The Video I made is here. The DL2's in the rig made a seamless high Def image that is huge. Very nice.

It seems that Video is the "new light"and you can see it in many ways. Video playback on LED panels - Video in moving heads - Media servers everywhere. Here are two unique examples. The First is a movie of video projected onto fog. The second is video projected onto water. 

Saturday I will go on a product hunt, as time permits, and try to make a post Saturday night.

David 

Local Madison Talent shines at LDI

David Neuser - the voice of ETC Complete Control gave his first presentation on the booth. David walks the audience through the concept of Compete Control and how it is represented in our product line. Davids presentation highlights the new products on the booth and invites people to come in and learn more.

The Show is Open!

The floor at LDI has been open about 45 minutes and the feeling around the ETC stand is great. Each Eos console has about 2 simultaneous demos going on!

The new booth is working great - literally packed full of people.

Congo jr is also drawing a big crowd.

LDI Preshow - Day 2

The show floor is still a huge mess at 8pm Thursday night. It is amazing that it will look very complete by 8am Friday morning - but it usually happens that way.

Let me first report that my friends at Barbizon were able to resolve their union troubles - and once again put up a nice stand.

Their stand even includes a fine  blimp! Is that the IATSE or the teamsters filling the blimp?

LDI is an opportunity for peoples real personalities to come out.

Imagine my surprise to encounter Dr. DMX - standing very still in multiple booths.

It seems that Doug Fleenor - AKA Dr. DMX has planted himself all over the show floor this year. I will look for more instances tomorrow.

Coemar with a beautiful display - nicely lit.

And Robe - also a nice display. They have a large stand and seem to be increasing their prescence in the US market.

 I have no idea what this is. Looks like a prop from the movie cocoon or something. I'll go back for a better look tomorrow.

We at ETC held a rep meeting this evening. Had a good rep turnout and a great opportunity to get our reps up to speed on what we are doing. Here you will see David North showing off our new Emergency Lighting Transfer Switch (ELTS)

Did I mention that David Smith loves his Congo jr? It's hard not to love a desk so cute!

Anne Valentino showing the latest Eos software release to the demoers.

The latest release has really cleaned up many areas and added the really nice features. The demos tomorrow should go great! There was a lot of energy in our group tonight and I think this is a moment we have all been waiting for.  

Does this guy look happy? He should. Dan Duffy is one of the lead software developers on the Eos and he is happy to see it in action on the stand! Good luck tomorrow Dan. 

Wish us all good luck! Tomorrow begins a new day. Opening day.

David 

More LDI Blogs

Just discovered that Barbizon has a blog

http://www.barbizonlighting.blogspot.com/

And also thought you might want to check out the official LDI site Blog

http://blog.livedesignonline.com/liveblog/

Any other LDI blogs that you know of?