Starlight Express

These are pictures of me operating the Yamaha QL1 sound desk for the sound check before show of Starlight Express. Over the show week I have been doing the SFX on an ACAI beatpad for the show as well as having a practice on the sound desk

26/04/2016 Setting up a projector.

Today we set up a projector in the ceiling of the Drama studio for a GCSE exam, we had to come up with an equipment list then go to the store cupboard and find the equipment that we would need to use. The equipment we needed was a projector, projector ceiling mount,VGA cable, power cable and the projector remote. We then went back to the drama studio and assembled the projector on the IWB which was going to be projected on the wall so we didn't need to assemble a screen as well.

15/04/2016 - recording soundscape audio and visual

Today we recorded some of the audio/ sound effects we need for are soundscape including slamming doors , creaky doors, horses galloping..etc. But we also video recorded all of this as evidence for our unit.

This picture is of me recording my voice onto Cubase. ^ Using a condensor mic setup.

This is a picture of me recording my footsteps with a portable recorder and a tripod. 

 This is my final Cubase project.

 This is showing me using automation to fade in the sound on Cubase.

This is showing me adding reverb to one of my recordings on Cubase.

13/04/16 - soundscape practice in a group

Today we (Me, Rowan,Charlie and Ashley) went out and recorded various sound effects we would need for our soundscapes on the schools Alesis portable recorder on a tripod such as falling onto a mat to re-create Mourise falling off his horse then slamming a door to get the door slamming effects and also got the bush rustling and twig snapping sfx recorded. We will be doing the real recording in our following lessons.

Keystoning a projector.

Today we learned how to set up a projector and to program through chamsys how to set it up as a video output we then learned how to keystone the projector so that it fit on the wall but also how to horizontally and vertically flip the image which would be useful if the projector was displaying rear projection however as it is in the image the projector is just normal front projection.

setting up video system Wednesday 9th March

Today we set up a live composite video feed from a CCTV camera through a BNC cable which then goes into an RCA adapter then into a 4 way splitter then continuing RCA into two different TV's.

Setting up the the lighting for the fashion show.

Yesterday we set up the lighting plan for the fashion show that is part of Rowan and Conners exam for lighting, we firstly layed out all the lighting on the floor according to the lighting plan then assembled the tower. When the tower was assembled we started rigging all the lanterns on the IWB's to where they should be on the lighting plan but then left the focusing to do on Friday at period 3 when we are as a group again and have the hall more set up for the fashion show.

Learning how to take apart lanterns.

Today we learned how to take each lantern apart and clean the inside should we need to. We got taught how to open a Profile , Fresnel , Flood  and a PAR64.  To open up a profile there is a little black button on the side which you can press and the inside will open up to the light bulb , there is also another button you can press toward the front of the lantern which will open up to the lens's. To open up a PAR64 you must pull out the silver coiled screw on the side at the back of the lantern in which there will be the plug and once you've detached that there is a circular piece of safety metal that you must squeeze each end for it to loosen. You can then access the lantern. For a flood you must unclip the first screen , then unclip the glass panel beneath , you can then access the bulb although you must wear gloves when you touch it because the oils on your fingers may damage it. Last of all there is a similar technique to taking apart a Fresnel as their is with the profile meaning there is a discrete black button on the outside that will give you access to the bulb inside.  

Sound team evaluation for Starlight Express

Things that went well - 

1. Sound equipment was set up quickly and efficiently 

2. We worked well as a team. 

3. Communication throughout the team worked really well. 

4. All equipment was working well although there were a few sound issues.

5. Rowan and I worked out how to convert MP3 into WAV for the sound effect beat pad. 

 

Things that could have been better -

1. Need to make sure that ALL equipment is in the right place so that when we come to use it we know where it is. We couldn't find the hanging mics when we needed them which was a problem for a while but we found them eventually  

2. Need to make sure that all batteries were charged or that we have got spares. For the radio mics which ran out relatively quickly and we could have also done another mic because the mic change between Poppa and Volta (characters) weren't often successful because they  were needed at the same time.

3. More discipline with cast when dealing with sound equipment but specifically mics. 

4.  The SFX beat pad worked fine however was a pain to operate because every time it got turned off it would reset and therefore I would have had to re-select all the SFX that was needed and that the SFX was all playing at different levels of sound. The velocity on the beat pad also made the SFX come out at different volumes which was an issue.

Starlight Express Cancelled! 7/2/16 - Get out 9+10/2/2016

Due to the tent braking because of recent weather issues Starlight Express has been delayed until June ,We found this out on Sunday when we got emailed by Mr Hawkins saying ...


Hello everyone,

I am sorry to have to say that we are not going to be able to perform the show this week.

The Marquee company has arrived and said that it is unsafe to use the tent. It can’t be fixed in time for Tuesday.

They say that they have never had a problem like this with a marquee since the Great Storm of 1987.

I know, like us, you will be very sad and disappointed. 

Let’s all meet tomorrow in the dance studio at 8.45.

We are going to reschedule the show in the summer, after the exams. We need to talk to Y13 and Y11 in particular about this.

We will be doing the show again. But not yet!

Obviously, you will be in lessons now this week.

An email will be sent to ticket holders soon. But if you can tell people who you know have tickets then do so.

We will email everyone about tickets tomorrow.

See you tomorrow. 

Mr Hawkins and all the production team. 

So immediately we had to start the get out and first off we had to unload the remaining gear from a van into DS2 this included the drapes , the star-cloth , and a lot of 15 and 32amp cables from the tent. We then arranged it into piles of our own (school) stuff and equipment that we rented from CPS. Another thing we did the day after was help carry all the flooring and truss into the CPS vans for them to take away along with taking down the lanterns from hanging truss then using the tower to take down the remaining FOH truss. We also carried the skate ramps out from the tent and to hall where they will hopefully be stored there until June.

Starlight Express get in! Friday 29th and Sunday 31st January

This me and the sound team setting up the band equipment on the platform.

This is the sound team bringing in the flight cases from the van.

This is the sound desk straight after me and Corben carried it up to the box.

This is me rigging the Sound multi-core across the roof of the tent.

For the Starlight Express get in as a sound department we lifted all our flight cases to our assigned place which was the stage left wing and then proceeded to set up our gear. One of the first things me and Corben did was rig the main multicore from the raised platform which the sound desk is on and across the roof of the tent(which we did on a ladder connecting it to the roof with cable ties) to back stage where we set up the rio rack and plugged it all in to its correct input/outputs. Another thing that I did was set up all the power for the tent with massive cables that went into the generator and into the distro which convertes the power from the generator into a lower power output. After that we set up the sound PA which we had to try various different arrangements untill we decided to have the four speakers on each side stacked ontop of each other on a stage bloack and then a speaker hanging from the center of the truss.

Starlight act 2 rehearsal-full company

Yesterday night we did a run through of Act 2 which features important songs such as Light at the end of the tunnel, the rap, one rock n roll to many, right place right time and Starlight sequence. The show went smoothly and only one person fell over on roller skates and no one forgot their lines however when all actors are onstage for the rap we had to practice their dancing at the sidelines to achieve that artistic integrity. I made some notes about Sarah, Sophie and Mabel to maybe turn their radio mics up while they are singing and what will happen when the dace break happens in the rap about the trains shouting and whether that will effect their singing.

22/01/2016 - First day in Starlight tent.

Today was the first day we went into the Starlight Express tent and we moved all the flooring(Chipboard) into the two different parts of the tent which being the main stage area and the backstage area. We carried the the chipboard in pairs through the tent and got everything done pretty quickly.

Act one run through. Starlight Express.14/01/16

Today we ran through the whole of Act One in the dance studio , so that all the cast and band could practice singing/acting/rollerblading and so the production crew could make notes on their specific area's. So for sound I made notes about how when she is on stage Mabel's mic should be turned up due to her quite voice, and that when prince of Wales does a cartwheel that there should potentially be some "whoosh" sound effect.  I thought that the whole show ran surprisingly smoothly and that the only other thing I made note of is whether the electric trains in "AC/DC"  should have a electronic voice over and that whether that could be done by the sound desk itself.

Taking out the mains cable in the main school hall.

Today , I went up the tower and cut all the cable ties that where holding the mains cable up in the roof which powers most of the sound equipment in the box. This was quite a time consuming task considering there were two cable ties every meter or so but in the end we had the whole thing coiled up.

Set Construction 20/1/2016

These are all pictures of me helping with building skate ramps for Starlight Express doing important things such as sawing , sanding on the belt sander but also with glass paper and measuring out where the side handles need to be cut on the ramps. We are in the final stages of completing the ramps , one of the most important things we have left to do is to add the wheels.

Mic Plot for Starlight Express

This is the final Mic plot for Starlight Express.

Sound Effects list for Starlight Express 11/01/2016

Song	Bar Number	Type of effect	Notes
Before the show		Train Set Noises
1	21	Door Knock
1	21	Door Opening
7	1	Diesel Horns
7	124	Electricity Noises
8	1	Electric/Metallic on Electra and backing voices	These go on throughout the entire song (?)
8	1	Electricity/Sparks/Lighting	During the Component’s and Electra’s entrance
25	25	Siren	For all four races
25	25	Fight
25	34	Crash
30	1	Siren
30	69/70	Crash	Check with Hawkins

11/01/16 - Production/ Sound meeting for Starlight Express

No Backing Tracks for Starlight , everything done by band or SFX

1. Door opening , subtle handle - SFX.
2. Greaseball needs to sound "Elvisy , deep , bassy , reverb".
3. Diesel horns / trains SFX.
4. Experiment with Electra's voice - Metallic , robotic sound effects , potential "robotic" effect of sound desk.
5. DLG must have mic in rehearsals.
6. Sort out Wrenches mic!
7. tabs on Control.
8. Sirens for all four races - SFX.
9. Make sure the sound by Starlight Sequence is very loud.
10. Will do the playout.

Sound department Starlight meeting.

Sound FX - Everyone has to split the songs for the Sound FX

21st January - 2 delay speakers for the back row of Front Of House(FOH) Truss. Delay time must be included.
Get in Jobs - Patch list ASAP , Sol - Radio's / System Tech.

Christmas concert

For the Christmas concert I did a number of roles including working on the sound board , ASM , follow spotting and tabs. These are pictures of the hall with no one in it but with the whole Christmas concert set up and there is also a picture of the soundboard being operated for the Christmas concert.