Likely the 8 consoles are in order to allow 8 separate programmers to work on the show simultaneously. They are all networked into the system, and the different channels are partitioned off to the appropriate programmer. For example one programmer might be doing the outer fountains, another the high altitude fountains, another the video servers, and so on. I could probably make a fairly accurate guess at what each partition might consist of if I had a look at the drawings and layout. Usually the programming tasks on large shows are divided up by type of gear, physical location, or type of device (moving lights vs. non moving (conventional) lights). That way each programmer can focus on doing cool stuff with his gadgets, while the show design team directs the overall look.Fantasmic_Freak wrote:Ouh my fav, a GrandMA! I'm working of a eos right now with 15 m-faders and 6 vl2500's plus dance tree's and down pools, all that jazz. World of Color looks amazing with their 8 GrandMA 2's that are running the show.
That console is capable of 256 universes, so WOC might well exceed its capacity, depending on the system layout. Some video servers need 2 complete universes to themselves, and I have no idea how the moving head fountains map out control wise. If another galaxy of dmx is needed, the second galaxy can just be slaved to the main one with midi show control, or a separate smpte feed.
On Wicked we used 4 grand MAs if I remember correctly. One for Movers, one for conventional, one for video, and then a fourth one to actually operate the whole mess. I did not stick around for the programming so I was done once the rig was up and working.
Vl2500s are great. My rig uses about 80 of them. I converted "We Will Rock You" from Mac 2ks to VL2500s a couple of years ago. What a difference. Much less repair time involved, and a much brighter looking, more colorful show.



