We recently provided a full day training session focused on wireless DMX technology for the union members of IATSE Local One in New York City, which is the oldest entertainment union in the United States and celebrated its 137th birthday on April 26, 2023. The technicians who attended the training are the professionals who construct, install, maintain, and operate the lighting and sound equipment, the scenery and special effects for Broadway shows, concerts at Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden and Carnegie Hall, the productions at The Metropolitan Opera and throughout Lincoln Center, and the many entertaining broadcasts from CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, and PBS. We work at numerous cable TV studios and make possible the presentation of major corporate industrials and special events.

City Theatrical Sales Manager Harrison Hohnholt and General Manager Al Crawford at the IATSE Local One headquarters in NYC for Wireless DMX Training held on April 14, 2023. John Demous and Sebastian Madrigal from City Theatrical Sales were also present at the training (not pictured).

​IATSE Local One has a forward-thinking approach to training. The union provides an ongoing series of training courses to its members in all areas of technology, including wireless DMX.

Our training lasted a full day and consisted of a morning spent on the background of wireless DMX, including what is wireless DMX, what is DMX, radio and the electromagnetic spectrum, frequency hopping, adaptive hopping, crafting a small radio footprint, and understanding and working with antennas.

In the afternoon, our training included a hands-on setup of a complex multi-universe broadcast using Multiverse® wireless DMX/RDM technology while having the smallest possible radio footprint.

The training team covered RadioScan® Spectrum Analyser technology, how to do a sight survey, and why it is important for broadcast planning. Our team also talked about strategies to attain a stronger and more robust wireless DMX setup, including antenna placement and theory. The training included a live view of the wireless DMX in the room, by way of both the 900MHz and 2.4GHz bands, as well as several frequency scans from real world locations in bustling Midtown Manhattan.

The students divided into groups, and each set up a Multiverse wireless DMX/RDM system. Each group set to a different SHoW ID to prevent interfering with each other, just the way electricians in adjacent theatres on Broadway do. The groups performed several practical setups with the Multiverse Transmitter, Multiverse Node, and Multiverse Studio Receiver, running multiple universes and best practices.

City Theatrical Sales Manager Harrison Hohnholt and IATSE Local One union members discussing DMX512 today at the Wireless DMX Training.

 

The City Theatrical team presenting the training also set up and worked on wireless dimming of LEDs, which is common on nearly every show. The team used QolorFLEX 5x2.5A Multiverse Dimmers with LED tape attached that students could carry around and test. Many of the students had experience with this gear from shows that they had worked on.  We used Multiverse Node devices to set up and test the wireless dimming.

IATSE Local One’s forward-thinking approach is creating new entertainment technicians capable of operating and maintaining the high tech shows of today and tomorrow. Their training program continues to be a model for entertainment unions all over the U.S. and Canada.

 

 IATSE Local One Headquarters in New York City.

Want to learn more about this and upcoming demo and training opportunities given by City Theatrical?

Visit our Events page for a list of upcoming trade shows and events around the world, or schedule a virtual demo for you and your team members.