As well as using SHoW DMX Neo Transceivers and Receivers, the production marked the first use of the new D2 and D4 Dimmers.
Martin Chisnall, as well as being one of the show's production electricians, took on the role of wireless DMX consultant. He was brought on board by Howard Eaton Lighting to oversee the design and installation of the SHoW DMX Neo wireless DMX system.
Because of previous bad experiences with wireless DMX, the theatre had gained a reputation as a hostile environment in which to use radio DMX. Even before the theatre's previous show, Shrek, had closed, Chisnall conducted a 2.4GHz WiSpy survey onstage to discover what other competing wireless networks existed, and if there were any particular causes for concern. The survey results revealed over 25 competing Wi-Fi networks.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory uses a total of four wireless DMX universes. For the majority of the show the wireless elements all fit in to one universe, but for one scene in Act II, Willy Wonka's Inventing Room, another three universes are required simultaneously. These drive two arrays of Color Kinetics RGB LED nodes, through which chase sequences are run. This is always a tough test for any wireless DMX system, with the LED arrays mercilessly revealing any errors in the DMX data. The Neo system performed perfectly.
Because of the need to have four universes broadcast simultaneously, care was taken in the choice of frequency bandwidths and hopping patterns to ensure the four transmitters did not interfere with each other. Two of the transmitters were set to broadcast in the lower end of the available frequency spectrum, whilst the other two were set to broadcast in the upper end of the spectrum.
Light sources controlled include low voltage incandescent lamps, along with reams of LED tape, in white, RGB, and RGBW varieties. Dimming was provided either by City Theatrical Dimmers or Howard Eaton 'XT cards' and 600-watt high power dimmers.
(Jim Evans)
