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Highdb Music & Lights, Altoona, PA (2026)

09/17/2024

Introduced costumes and some lighting tonight, its coming together nicely. Using some stage wall uplighting to give added depth, and contrast to what comes from the front. Stage is eerily lit for pre-show cue, the wireless DMX control lets us do things like this no matter what venue we are in. I wouldn't say "painting" with light is an artform but creating shots like these is why I enjoy what I do.

09/15/2024

Loaded up and ready to roll. I compacted as much as I could, but it's still a load. We are using the house PA, so this is just lighting and associated equipment. Later the marathon begins, load in, and hopefully setup before rehearsal tonight. Tech week starts today, so it's imperative that it goes up quickly and works correctly as adjustments will need made once in the venue. Like when I dabbled in the DJ arena, this is actually when I "earn" my money, as the time in between load in and load out is still considered "fun".

08/09/2024

And we're off, a little late, but finally my first production of this season. We are setup once again in Johnstown at the Community Arts Center of Cambria County for a show tomorrow evening. Been here several times, nice modern venue, this is a comedy and includes audience participation. A "One-night-only" show, then it's on to the next production next week.

07/25/2024

I've been using this truss system for close to 20 years, so I know it well, the one and only piece that hasn't been through the bought/sell spin cycle. Was lucky enough to purchase a second one a few years ago (from Canada). Extremely light weight yet can support over 300 lbs. The theater configuration stays consistent from show to show, so we leave it pre-wired for efficiency. We have it down to a science now, bringing just what's needed and unless an unusual load in or out, we can typically have it setup, and tore down in about an hour.
Highdb Music & Lights

07/16/2024

Occasionally (rarely) you run across something that's too good to be true. Something I first came in contact with probably 35 years ago when I pulled up to my first judging lane. This piece of industrial test equipment was the industry standard in audio frequency analysis (of any industry requiring frequency testing). Being a real piece of test equipment, like a good Oscilloscope, these are not toys or cheap. Even to this day to buy one used (the only way to get one now) they have and still do command a high price tag (because they are that good). I've never been able to afford one (could not justify price) so I've settled for smaller less capable units strictly because of cost. Good but can only go so far, even the 20 band doesn't show me everything. Then we come across something that the seller genuinely knew absolutely nothing about, how to use it, or what it's even for. They're just a "re-seller or flipper". What I can't believe is this was listed for 6 whole days and nobody else pounced on it. This has happened a couple times before where someone sells something, not knowing anything about it, or even bother to take the time to research it. I couldn't believe my eyes (and the price) and immediately contacted the person to see what's up with it. I have stolen a few things along the way, but this one for several reasons tops them all. Needless to say, it's on its way to me...

04/07/2024

Harbor Freight to the rescue. $5 bucks got me what I needed, shoulda thought of them first. Success, screen has been safely removed, along with diffusion screen, and reflector. 3 hours in the tear down is complete. Order some new LEDs and see if we can reverse the process and get it back together successfully.

04/06/2024

HELP...Anyone out there have a pair of Glass suction cups I can borrow a few days? I should probably have my head examined for attempting repairs on this rather expensive 4k TV, but it's 3 years old, 3 and broke already. You wonder why you can buy TV's next to nothing today, and tv repairmen are all but extinct? 3 boards a screen, and in this case LEDs that probably add up to a whopping $100.00 worth of parts. Like any other "repair bill" it's usually the labor that makes some units just not cost effective to repair. This is a prime example here. Had any of the 3 boards failed, an hour tops, and its back up and running. Of course, I'm not that lucky. Newer is not necessarily better, but definitely cheaper. If you ever wondered how this works, yes, the screen creates the image, however, just like a movie projector, light from behind is used to "illuminate" the image. In the early times of flat screens, they used florescent tubes very similar to what you might find in a "shop light". Thanks to the tree hugging movement, fluorescents are too energy wasteful, so they switched over to LED as a lighting source. Cheaper, less energy used, and theoretically should outlast the TV. BUT, they do a very stupid thing and string rows of LEDs behind (6 rows in this one), and wire them in series, just like the old "Christmas light string" so if one, just one of those LEDs burn out, guess what? They all go out. The LEDs of course are behind the screen, which has to come off. I've gone as far as I can at the moment taking this apart with about 2 hours in just getting this far. ONE wrong move cracks the screen, as it is literally paper thin it must be lifted without any flexing or bending, or game over immediately. @ 55 inches there is no way to safely lift this off the frame without some window suction cups. This diagnosis would have normally meant a one-way trip to the recycling center because IF I'm successful at getting this back together I'll have probably 5-6 hours in to replace $30.00 worth of LEDS behind the screen. The repair bill would be more than buying a new one, so we are going to give it the "old trade school try" notice I didn't say the "old college try" I didn't waste my money at one of those OR need anyone to "bail me out" afterwards.......

02/05/2024

Both machines freshly reloaded and ready to go. I really couldn't do what I do without computer support. One is responsible for script and sound cue duties, the other, strictly lighting duties. And I still have a mixer, rack full of wireless mics, and usually a PA to keep track of as well. I typically don't get to "see" a performance even though I may "see" it days straight because my head is on a swivel all night keeping the "machine" running.

12/31/2023

Weather isn't cooperating tonight so couldn't take the laser for a ride to project onto a building or mountain side, so we did a little "in house" timeline. Just a couple still shots of the animation.

12/20/2023

Some things you cannot do. You cannot fool "Mother Nature" (No! Men can't have babies). And you can't cheat the laws of physics. "You cannot get something from nothing". When I decided to "upgrade" Frankie by adding new subwoofers/passive radiators, I also replaced the "real" 100-watt amp with a "real" 300-watt amp. I did not upgrade the power supply/battery system, which is just a 25v, 5a, 125wh.

**Commercial Break**
For those that don't know, amplifiers do NOT produce, manufacture, create, or magically pull out of thin air "Watts". What they DO, do, is take the available power coming in, modulate it, send it to a speaker. Nothing more, nothing less. So regardless of what any manufactures slick marketing department "claims"
"IF the power ISN'T coming in, then it ISN'T coming out". Period.***

**Of course, having a Degree in Electronics, I knew this, and often preach on it, but thought I could "cheat" and by-pass "those laws". Nope, from the day I put the bigger amp in, the performance actually dropped severally, and after a couple weeks of "pretending", took it out, and put the original 100w amp back in. Now the sound is so much better because the amp does not stress the battery system, and because the bigger amp could never put out any more than about 100w anyway, there is ZERO volume difference between the two amps, just way better sound. Now what to do with a 300w amp? Hmm....

12/09/2023

Tonight's "second opening" at Greenlands Lodge was to a full house. Overall went well, just a few shots from the control tower.

12/08/2023

All setup, with final rehearsal before tomorrows "2nd" opening of the Christmas production. Last week we "opened" in Johnstown, and now bringing it to another venue for a 4-show stretch. Typically, I may sit between, under, or near the lighting, but the layout of the venue, show, and seating, has created a situation where the lighting is in one spot, and my station is on the opposite side of the main entrance. This is another example of why when we went to "portable/traveling" productions, I invested in wireless lighting control technology, doesn't matter where lighting is, or where I am in relation to it. As long as I can see it, I can control it, wirelessly. It's not just a gimmick, or convenience, but a necessary valuable tool for any venue we are in.

Highdb Music & Lights

09/17/2024

09/15/2024

08/09/2024

07/25/2024

07/16/2024

04/07/2024

04/06/2024

02/05/2024

12/31/2023

12/20/2023

12/09/2023

12/08/2023

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