We've had conversations here before about lighting desks etc - for those of you who haven't read them, I've always been in the camp of the "proper desk" But I guess that's because I get to use equipment like the Strand 500, Avolites Pearl and Diamond and occasionally the Whole Hog II & III (That desk still baffles me)

For a variety of reasons though I've recently purchased a Lan Box. This is a small device(8"x2"x3") which is a fully functioning lighting control operated via software and a laptop.

For my next show in early Oct it's being used to drive 30 moving lights which pretty much uses up it's 512 channels of control. The box and Software is ?500

Inital impressions - It's not the easiest and most user friendly of devices to program initially - in fact it was a real struggle the manual is a waste of space. However once you get to grips with it it's quite easy.

Basically it functions like a high end desk with the ability to have one cue stack with each scene programmed in sequence, or as I'm using it with several each controlling different types of lights or sections of the rig with one stack pulling together different steps to use at different times.

Having a graphical interface makes it easy to select lights and see what they're doing - you can arrange the lights in any order to your preference, whether as they are in the rig or grouped together in type

You have the ability to save scenes or light settings as quick drop down preset menus for quick retrival when needed. Profiles of different fixtures are included.

So far it's proving to be a boon - as I can program most of my rough cue settings in advance of me arriving at the theatre. Which was one of the reasons I brough it - the other was that it was going to cost me ?600 per week to hire a desk that could control the 900 channels needed for this production.

It does have some quirky features which I don't really like - but given time I may come round. Certainly it would be of no use for productions when you load you submasters with a series of looks and then wing your way through the show - but for most theatre companies it could be worth looking at (as long as you have a laptop to drag to the theatre each night)

For those of you coming to Saucy Jack I'll give a demo of the boxes there, however for those wanting more info yo ucan find it at The Lanbox web page.

I'll post again after my show to let you know how sucessful it was in action

Martin,

I too have looked at this product, and it seems excellent from its blurb on the web. I have been looking myself for a similar product, but I would prefer one with submasters for conventional lights (ain't got no moving fings )

Other items that seemed good are

DMX Creator
Soundlight DMX
Artistic License

But I think each one uses its own 'dongle', and you can't use different software with the same hardware, which makes it hard to compare. Perhaps a full write-up on this forum, and if any others could comment on their experience on the other items.

I've got a trial for DMX creator I'll play with it after Saucy Jack

I was put onto the lanbox by a collegue who was so impressed (but he is an IT Geek) he sold his conventional desk.

South London Theatre also has one which they use for drama productions - albeit as one cue stack - and are getting on just fine with it.

How about getting some photos of these?
So we can all see what they look like?

So when you tell us actors "don't touch" we'll know not what to not touch...

Actually pictures would be nice.

Well, the bit that actors might see of ours is now a PC rather than a board, that's all ...

George

All you see is the computer. If you like you can couple the lan box via ethernet and put it where you want too. There're no buttons or switches so meddling fingers can't play

if you want a pic visit the LanBox Web site.

I assume you already know what a computer looks like

Update

Well I've programmed and run a show using this package. Actually we used two boxes and two programmers/operators to speed things up

I have to say that after my initial reservations it's worked very well - although it does take a bit of figuring out to get the best from it.

Even though I've used it for a complex show it would be right at home in your normal drama production.

To give one example of it's many features; Rather than putting all your lights in one cue, you can divide them up into seperate "scenes" and run them together under one cue. How many times have you set a scene that's used multiple times throughout the show? The director wants to change it - maybe to add more light through the window? Now normally you'd have to go through every cue changing it - (I bet we've all missed one or two). Well by recording scenes in the lanbox and having your cues recall each scene when ever you want it you only need to reset the scene once.

You can do this on lots of desks I know - but on how many that cost ?500?

If anyone is interested I'd be happy to give more information - needless to say after using high end desks in theatres for years - I'm a convert - especially as I can set up scenes in the comfort of my home prior to getting into the theatre thus saving even more time

Hi

I have been looking into these just recently and was wondering how its still going with the LAN box as it does seem almost too good for the price.

Hi Fishy

Truthfully - I despise mine now! but that's a personal problem not a fault of th eLanbox. My friend loves his (but then he loves Mac PC's so there's no accounting for taste).

Technically the new software is great - although I can't get mine to talk with my PC (the PC's fault) so I haven't used it.

My friend's just run two show on his - JCSS with 16 movers and a host of normal lights - looked great and Chess with a LED dance floor which again worked really well

on the plus side you get a lot of features and it does everything. One feature I like is the text function - if you have some lights coloured in say Red, a colour scroller with red and a mover in red - and have saved them as individual presets call red, then by selecting the light, and typing red - they all move to that colour.

Your rig is displayed graphically - either as your rigged positions or as easy to find groups of lights any way you choose - no need to remember channel numbers

It's small so you can carry it in your laptop bag - try that with a normal desk

My hates - the goofy programming - and having to use a mouse for everything - but then I'm used to normal desks with touchscreens etc.

To be honest for ?500 it's good value South London Theatre use one and are happy - pepole who've used mine like it - I just prefer desks with buttons I can push. But then again the desks I use cost between ?10 - 20K so not really a air comparison. Put against the Zero 88 range - I'd take the lanbox any time

Hi

Thanks for the info.

Having issues with the current installation mainly due to its age, new bars/patch/dimmers required. The Zero 88 120 Desk is starting to get temperamental hence the query.

The flexibility of the unit was its main appeal along with price. However i do agree its nice to be sat in front of a desk.

IOne disadvantage with the lanbox is thay you need a PC/laptop and the sencond is that quite a few people have trouble getting to grips with it's software syntax and methology - although I'm reliably informed it's miles better than it was. If people need faders then forget it

Otherwise I'd give it a bash, you can sit the unit right next to yor dimmers and connect via a wireless network if you wish, and you can link up to 8 boxes together to give you more channels

Much as I dislike it - I can't knock it for ?500 and to be honest the next desk that has similar features (like the cad visual for yor lights) is the Jands Vista which I'm currently saving to buy. The main difference is better user features and a lot more of them on the Vista - but you have to pay another ?14,000 and the desk weighs a lot more.

Try the lanbox demonstrator at lanbox.com