Automated Lighting: The Art and Science of Moving Light in Theatre, Live Performance, Broadcast, and Entertainment

Chapter 18

Architecture for Control Networks (ACN)

Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.—Frank Zappa

When a group of lighting professionals came together under the auspices of USITT to create a standard for DMX512 protocol in 1986, automated lighting as we know it was in its infancy. Only a handful of companies around the world manufactured automated lights, and most of them only rented them; they weren’t for sale. In addition, when a client hired an automated lighting system, they often had to hire a programmer/operator, too. Clients were bound by the terms of the contract to use specially trained personnel to set up and operate the automated lighting system. Therefore, there was little need to integrate automated lighting ...