Lighting Controls Podcast

Javid and Robert are two guys who dive into the long, boring stuff of standards and protocols so you don’t have to. Because of them, you will know which cables and wires to use for your DMX512 projects. You have the ANSI E1.27-2 Task Group to thank for setting the standards for “Permanently Installed Control Cables for Use with ANSI E1.11 (DMX512-A) and USITT DMX512/1990 Products.” Did you know that DMX512 needs a specific kind of cable? Well… now you know. Javid Butler is a lighting designer and energy engineer who holds LC, CEM, and CMVP certifications. He has contributed to the development of many lighting standards including RDM and sACN, and chaired the task group for E1.27 DMX512 cabling standards. He presently chairs the E1.68 DMX512 Compliance task group. In addition to lighting standards Javid enjoys teaching Fundamentals of Lighting. He also writes science fiction under the pen name David Pax. Robert Bell a Consulting Director for Product Market at Acuity Brands and oversees the development of the entire Pathway Connectivity product line. Robert has been awarded multiple US Patents for lighting controls and networking which have been assigned to Acuity Brands. In 1992, he won the first every Wally Russell Newcomer Award as the creator of WYSIWYG, the Emmy Award winning previsualization software. His is a regular contributor to entertainment lighting periodicals and is the author of the book Let There Be Light, Conversations with Lighting Pioneers. With roots in the Rock ‘n Roll touring world and broadcast Television during the 1990’s, he spent the 2000's as a product manager for Strand Lighting and as brand ambassador for Vari*Lite. For the past 20 years, Robert has sat on ESTA’s Control Protocol Working Group, the body that brought DMX, RDM and sACN forward as ANSI standards. 

Bruce “The Lighting Sherpa” is not a “lighting controls guy by definition, by pedigree or by training,” but he certainly sounds like one. He knows enough to warrant us bringing him back for a second appearance. He is a lighting designer, educator, consultant and coach. With Bruce, we discuss custom integration, future proofing, what HTA stands for, and the unholy communion lighting wafer. Bruce brings his passion, personality, and creativity to every encounter whether through clever design, consultation, or education. His experience as a critical team member launching an innovative and successful lighting design firm provides Bruce with the background to help others do similar. For the last 5 years, Bruce has devoted his professional energy to the emerging Custom Integration residential and resimercial markets. He has developed curriculum and delivered training content to A/V Integrators that helped them take the next step into designing their own lighting projects and provided immediate capacity to their projects by acting as a liaison and trusted advisor. Bruce has worked with lighting manufacturers who recognize the value and future potential of this market segment to enhance opportunities for the Custom Integrator. Bruce recognizes that light is the most significant way that architectural spaces are experienced, and that the lighting industry is undergoing a seismic shift towards a more technologically advanced method of delivering both light and design. He is committed to assisting Custom Integrators around the world present the benefits of better lighting and helping their customers understand the aesthetic, economic, energy, and health benefits. He respects the unique contributions all trade partners bring to a complex project and values collaboration to realize successful delivery. 

Everything you ever wanted to know about standardized lighting controls, but were afraid to ask. Paul is back to give us a preview of the DALI North America Summit, taking place October 30th at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York. You can expect an overview of DALI, a market update, a panel session, breakouts, and some technical training. And of course you get to geek out on lighting controls with your peers! Paul is a highly qualified and experienced management professional with more than 30 years’ experience in the electronics and LED lighting industries. He has held a number of senior roles in management, sales, operations, business development and strategic marketing, at companies involved in electronics distribution, semiconductor manufacturing, precision optics manufacturing and management consulting. He is a Member of IEEE and AMBA, and a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management.

To register for the DALI North America Summit: www.dali-alliance.org

Check out Paul's previous episode: https://www.lightingcontrolspodcast.com/episodes/episode-44-demystifying-dali-paul-drosihn 

Anthony has done a lot of installs in houses of worship. With their limited budgets, you want to get all your wiring right while the conduit is open and the drywall has yet to be done. And sometimes that means pressing your customer a little harder to get a more detailed and explicit Control Intent Narrative which will help you get it right the first time. Listen in and find out the intricacies of a niche lighting control project type! And sometimes that means pressing your customer a little harder and out of their comfort zone in order to get it right the first time. Anthony is a seasoned lighting designer with over a decade of experience in the industry. His career has seen him collaborate with leading technical brands, such as Luminex, to train, design, and consult on numerous projects within the house of worship, theater, and entertainment markets. As a Lighting Designer in Orlando, FL, Anthony has played a pivotal role in designing, programming, and managing sophisticated lighting systems and designs. Here, Anthony also honed his networking skills in an AVL (Audio, Visual, Lighting) environment, where he excelled in designing, programming, and training individuals to operate, configure, and confidently use their systems. In addition to his hands-on industry experience, Anthony has dedicated time to education by staying active in his local industry market as well as teaching in his local colleges. In this role, he imparts his extensive knowledge of entertainment and stage production to the next generation of industry professionals. Outside of work Anthony enjoys travel to the nation’s national parks, hiking, and cycling his way through the beautiful outdoors! Anthony's blend of practical experience and passion for teaching positions him as a valuable asset in any lighting design project, whether it be in a house of worship, a theater, or a grand entertainment venue.

Bill Ellis is back with his wealth of knowledge. Bill gives us his perspective on what’s trending and shifting in the Lighting Controls industry. Digital controls, 0-10V Analog, POE, ethernet, the advantages of DC power, DMX, DALI, 2023 NEC class 4 power…Bill brings us up to date. Bill Ellis is an industry expert in lighting systems integration and is very proud of Candela Controls Inc.’s enduring history. He is a member of IESNA, the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, and sits on its Theatre, Television and Film Advisory Committee and Museum Lighting Committee. Bill is also a member of Control Protocols Workgroup for ESTA, the Entertainment Services and Technology Association. He is a Certified Low-Voltage Systems Specialty Contractor in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, New Jersey, Mississippi, Louisiana and Rhode Island. 

Want to be a part of ESTA’s Control Protocols Working Group, at least temporarily? Then get you, your ideas, and your lighting controls down to the Dallas Fort Worth Marriott Solana from October 24-27 and “plug in.” While there, you can meet our guest, Milton Davis, and find out the latest on ANSI, TSP, the CPWG, DMX 512, and of course, ESTA. And while you are there you can see the area by taking a WALK. Milton Davis has been involved in the entertainment lighting industry for over 45 years. During that time, he has served as a lighting designer, stage electrician, field service engineer, product developer, software engineer, hardware engineer, and advocate for the DMX512 protocol. He was part of the ESTA task group which formalized the DMX512-A standard making it an ANSI national standard. Mr. Davis has been an ETCP Certified Entertainment Electrician and Recognized Trainer for over 15 years. During that time, he has led many classes and seminars addressing a wide variety of lighting professionals from all skill levels. Covered topics relate to all lighting control protocols and general practices related to theaters, theme parks, houses of worship, convention centers, and any other location where lighting control is critical to presentations and general operation. He is currently the co-chair for ESTA's Control Protocols Working Group and is a member of a number of that group's task groups working on new standards. Milton works for Doug Fleenor Design, Inc. where he designs products and provides technical support to customers. 

“Faster than a speeding bullet! Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound…!” Yes the people at Control Force are like Supermen or Wonder Women. After the sales rep has sold the equipment, and the installers have finished, and all those people have moved onto the next project, Control Force can sweep in, finish the startup, clean up the system, get it working as originally conceived and be there for the long term maintenance. Son of the founder of O’Shea Electric, Chris comes by this industry honestly. Finding his interest in theatrical lighting, he worked for, among others, Strand Lighting, Thea Enterprises representing Lutron, Chelsea Lighting, and most recently at PG Elite Lighting Service as Manager of Sales and Marketing. As Chris O'Shea Theatrical Lighting Design from 1996-2018, he has been a designer, stage tech, and board-operator for over 180 productions from the local church to Carnegie Hall. He is now the Head of Marketing and Business Development for Control Force. 

When Jose is not filming documentaries, he’s a “Solutions Engineer.” If you’re in the northeast, Jose can go into a space and audit ASHRAE levels 1, 2 and 3. He can help you comply with local energy saving ordinances by identifying fluorescents or halogens or opportunities for natural light. Then he’ll come back with a plan to give you the same level of light, using LED’s, controls and fenestration.

Jose is a 48 year old New York City Native (Dominican Republic descent) raised in Miami, FL. He is a filmmaker/documentarian by night and a solutions engineer and lighting expert by day. 

Get ready for an exciting deep dive with Ron and Webster as they tackle the confusing world of lighting controls definitions! In this episode, our hosts break down the inconsistencies in industry jargon, share their own takes, and explore how communication can go haywire when jumping between niches. But don’t worry, there may be a solution: The Lighting Controls Forum! Tune in to this guest-free episode and see if you’re on the same wavelength as Ron and Webster. 

Bruce “The Lighting Sherpa” Clark talks with Webster and Ron about CEDIA (Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association), dealers, buying groups, reps, and lighting designers. Bruce likes his analogies. He talks about “trunk slammers,” “The Golden Goose,” “Pacman” and “Zelda,” and of course “lights as paint brushes.” It’ll all make sense when you listen to this episode. Bruce brings his passion, personality and creativity to every encounter whether through clever design, consultation or education. His experience as a critical team member launching an innovative and successful lighting design firm provides Bruce with the background to help others do similar. For the last 5 years, Bruce has devoted his professional energy to the emerging Custom Integration residential and resimercial markets. He has developed curriculum and delivered training content to A/V Integrators that helped them take the next step into designing their own lighting projects and provided immediate capacity to their projects by acting as a liaison and trusted advisor. Bruce has worked with lighting manufacturers who recognize the value and future potential of this market segment to enhance opportunities for the Custom Integrator. Bruce recognizes that light is the most significant way that architectural spaces are experienced, and that the lighting industry is undergoing a seismic shift towards a more technologically advanced method of delivering both light and design. He is committed to assisting Custom Integrators around the world present the benefits of better lighting and helping their customers understand the aesthetic, economic, energy and health benefits. He respects the unique contributions all trade partners bring to a complex project and values collaboration to realize successful delivery.