3 Things I Wish I Knew Before Using the LightSharkLighting Console Layout for Events with Camera (A.K.A Every Event)

Since starting with the LightShark it’s become one of my favorite consoles to work with. If you’ve been following Learn Stage Lighting for a while you might have noticed how much I talk about LightShark.

Like working with any new piece of equipment there are things I wish I would have known about when I started using the LightShark. Here are the top 3 things I wish I knew when I got started.

USB Charge Port

The first thing I wish I knew when I got started with the LightShark is the USB Charge Port located on the back of the unit. This charge port is specifically for charging your unit.

It does charge the device but honestly it’s not exactly the fastest which can make it frustrating at times. If you are using an iPad that has “retina display” or you keep your brightness up all the way you may notice that after long uses that it begins to creep down.

While there is really no way to avoid this I do recommend just getting a good charger and have the unit plugged in to charge when you plan on using the LightShark for longer periods of time.

“Find” Command

When working with the actual LightShark software there are a couple of things I wish I knew. Using the Find command on the program has become a very useful tool and I wish I had known about it sooner.

As you can see in the image above the Find command does a couple of things. First, you will “select” the fixtures and then click “Find”. When you do this your fixtures will come to their find value. When you go to the “Prog/Out” tab located on the top you will see that all of those fixtures are opened to full.

It’s important to remember that when you do use the “Find” command it does bring those values into the programmer. So, you want to consider that when you set the parameters are you sure you want all of that information stored in that Cue. Because when using the “Find” command you bring all of those values to the programmer.

LTP, HTP, and Clear

The last thing I wish I knew when working with the LightShark console is understanding how the LTP and HTP work according to the Clear button. If you’ve worked with other consoles you may struggle with adjusting to the LTP and HTP values.

When selecting the lights you want to work with, setting the positions, and any other parameters if you click “Clear” the console is going to clear the HTP values. If you would like learn more about HTP and LTP I have a great article that dives more into this topic.

What is HTP? What is LTP? Why Should I Care?

When working with the LightShark console the HTP values are going to be the intensity. When you press “Clear” it’s going to clear the intensity but it will leave the position, color, and other parameters as is. This will clear the values out of the Prog/Out section but the output to your stage will stay as is.

This may be a bit of an adjustment but when you work with this function more it can be a great tool for creating a fantastic lighting show.

If you would like to learn more about the LightShark and how to get started, be sure to check out these resources.

What is the LightShark?
How to Begin with the LightShark

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Inside of Learn Stage Lighting Labs, we’ve got action plans that teach you everything you need to know to master all the LightShark.

LightShark – The Complete Guide

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