How easy were the new features of SkyPanel Firmware 4 to use during the programming?
Kong: It was incredibly easy! SkyPanel Firmware 4 works directly into what we had been doing with Firmware 3.0, but with additional features, modes, and the Light Engine DMX Control. We had a finer control of the rig, especially with the S360-Cs.
How long did the programming take?
Treeson: Phil spent a full day in prep. Then, he and I spend one full day together programing using PreVis. Both programming and focusing took three days. Separately, I spent several days with the different music tracks breaking down each and laying in the timecode triggers.
Your thoughts on programming the SkyPanels.
Kong: I love working with them. It is easy to get eye-popping colors as well as fine tune color temperature and color correction. However, the one feature I love the most is how the color mode is treated separately from color temperature mode. Having the color cross fade channel allows me to have two completely different sets of effects or cues running at the same time, one affecting color and the other affecting color temperature, and I can pick and choose how I move between the two. I can have fixtures rippling between the modes together, in waves, randomly, etc. You name it and it can be done with the SkyPanels.
How did you use the Light Engine DMX Control Mode?
Kong: We knew this was a major feature that we wanted to showcase, so right off the bat we were planning how we would reveal the new level of granular control. Emanuel featured the S360-Cs in the middle of the ring so that they could take focus when we wanted them to. As we built each song, we used the four S360-Cs as a whole in order to keep the surprise under wraps a little longer, and when we got to key song moments we then started to deconstruct how we used the lights, breaking them up into columns, checkerboards, larger blocks, or, like in one fun moment, into 48 individual strobes.
How many universes / DMX channels did you use?
Kong: We used eight universes for the entire rig, leaving some small gaps in case there were any unforeseen changes that needed to happen with re-patching or moving fixtures between universes. We used a total of five universes to handle the ring.
