This week we launch our new blog series Techie Tuesday. Each week we will aim to demystify the world of AV equipment and event services lingo and reveal exactly what those techs are talking about. Up first on the grill is the ‘Bio Box’. You may of heard technicians on site when setting up refer to the Bio Box in passing and felt bemused as to its meaning or use. Here we delve in to the history of the Bio Box and how it is used in events today. This week we launch our new blog series Techie Tuesday. Each week we aim to demystify the world of AV equipment and event services lingo and reveal exactly what those techs are talking about. Up first on the grill is the ‘Bio Box’. You may of heard technicians on site when setting up for an event refer to the Bio Box in passing and felt bemused as to its meaning or use. Here we delve in to the history of the Bio Box and how it is used in events today.
AV Discipline: Audio, Vision and Lighting
AV Category: Equipment, Cabling and Storage
AV Jargon: The Bio and/or The Control Room
Description: The Bio Box is a dedicated area or room in an event space, which is traditionally used by Technicians to operate and control audio visual equipment for an event.
The name originates from the “Biograph” film projector, which was one of the first film projectors to be produced. As there were no purpose built cinemas at the time, public halls & theatres were converted through the removal of seats and the building of enclosures or boxes to house the noisy film projectors – thus the name Bio Box. As films became more popular, purpose built cinemas were erected, with hidden projection booths. This left the converted halls and theatres with an unused enclosure or box at the rear of the room. With the evolution of sound, vision and lighting technologies, this disused space was utilised by Technicians for operating audio visual equipment, due to its isolation and centre position to stage. In today’s event market, the Bio Box is more often used for the patching of AV signals and equipment storage, due to their cramped spaces, restricted sight lines, and obscure access. Technicians typically prefer to control the AV elements from an area of the venue where they can experience the event from an audience’s point of view, delivering better outcomes for all stakeholders. In next weeks Techie Tuesday blog we talk Graphic Equalisers and why exactly you need one for your event. In the meantime if you have any words, terms or lingo you would like our AV expert to demystify for you please send your suggestions through to our contact form. Written by Andrew Thorne, ANZPAC Trainer & Assessor, Encore Event Technologies.
Andrew Thorne is ANZPAC Trainer & Assessor and drives our training programs at Encore Event Technologies, including our Certificate III in Live Production and Services Program for our new trainees. … Read More
Techie Tuesday: What is a Ballyhoo
Mar 18 2018
Each week we aim to demystify the world of AV equipment and event services lingo and reveal exactly what those techs are talking about. In this weeks #TechieTuesday we look at the Ballyhoo, or 'Bally' and find out what it is, where it's best used and what equipment you need if you want a Ballyhoo on your next event. Each week we aim to demystify the world of AV equipment and event services lingo and reveal exactly what those techs are talking about. In this weeks #TechieTuesday we look at the Ballyhoo, or 'Bally' and find out what it is, where it's best used and what equipment you need if you want a Ballyhoo on your next event. AV Discipline: Lighting
AV Category: AV Effects
AV Jargon: Bally Ballyhoo Description A Ballyhoo is an event lighting effect that involves fast movements, intensity changes and a variety of colours, which all help to build excitement and celebration during an event. Used in collaboration with smoke or haze, shafts of light will appear to punch through to all corners of the function space. Event Types
Ballyhoo’s are typically used on events such as award ceremonies and product launches where the desired effect is to energise and excite the audience. It’s a communication element that is totally driven by technology. To enhance the ballyhoo, event audio and vision elements can be introduced, giving the audience a heightened experience.
Equipment Required
So what is needed to create an effective Ballyhoo? - Lighting Fixtures; intelligent lights such as moving heads or moving mirrors are popular due to their controllable features such as intensity, colour, beam, and movement. - Lighting Console; a lighting controller that is able to trigger cues for multiple fixtures is required so as the fixtures know what to do and when to do it. - Lighting Technician; a creative and competent operator is critical to interpreting an event brief and designing a series of ballyhoo’s that enhance the audience experience. As Seen on Screen
Next time you are watching the Oscars, Grammy’s Bafta’s or even our home grown Logies, check out the lighting effects when they return from a commercial break, transition into a new segment or an award winner is called up onto stage, you will see a Ballyhoo in action entertaining the audience on a global scale. Source: Encore Event Technologies Up Next Week
Next week we will examine sub speakers, and discover the difference between woofers and tweeters! In the meantime if you have any AV terms or words you would like our AV experts to tackle leave a comment on the blog post below. Related Blog
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