standards news

ETCP USITT Exam Application Deadline Extended

The deadline for submitting applications to sit for the paper and pencil examinations to be given at USITT has been extended to March 12, 2010.

All three ETCP examinations will be offered at USITT in Kansas City, MO. All applications must be submitted to the ETCP office no later than 5 p.m. on March 12, 2010.

Entertainment Electrical Exam: March 31, 2010 (9:00 am)

Arena Rigging Exam: April 1, 2010 (9:00 am)

Theatre Rigging Exam: April 1, 2010 (2:00 pm)

Can't make it to USITT? You can apply to take an examination at a computer testing center near you. All three exams are available at over 190 testing centers in the U.S. and Canada on most business days. The Arena and Electrical examinations will also be given at InfoComm this summer in Las Vegas.

If you would like more information or would like eligibility requirements or applications sent to you, please contact Meredith Moseley-Bennett, ETCP Certification Manager, at certification@esta.org or 212-244-1505. Complete information is also available on the ETCP website: http://etcp.esta.org. The ETCP fifty-question practice examinations are now available at www.esta.org/etcppracticeexams.

The ETCP Council members are key leaders drawn from entertainment business, labor, facilities, associations, and academia representing the diversity of the entertainment industry. Membership includes AMPTP, BASE Entertainment, Broadway Across America, The Broadway League, Cirque du Soleil / MGM MIRAGE, CITT, Disney Theatrical Productions, ESTA, IAAM, IATSE, InfoComm, Live Nation, NBC Universal, PRG, SHAPE, TEA, and USITT. ETCP is an ESTA initiative created to promote industry safety.

New Edition of Illustrated Theatre Production Guide Published

This new and fully updated edition of the Illustrated Theatre Production Guide takes a step-by-step approach to the most common and popular theatre production practices.

New is an accompanying Website with how-to videos give an exclusive visual on how to do crucial backstage tasks such as properly tying knots, building a chandelier, and constructing an outdoor stage.

The title features hundreds of unique hand-drawings illustrate lessons to give dimensional detailed instruction This book covers important issues related to the construction of wooden, fabric, plastic, and metal scenery used on the stage. It examines theatres and their equipment, tools and materials, and scenery construction, as well as the principles of electricity and implementation of a lighting design.

Illustrated Theatre Production Guide second edition offers techniques and best-practice methods from an experienced industry expert, creating a foundation on which to build a successful and resourceful career behind the scenes in theatre production.

The author, John Holloway, is an Associate Professor and Technical Director for the Theatre Department at the University of Kentucky.

ISBN 13: 978-0-240-81204-5. US price $44.95; euro price €32.95; GBP price £22.99.

Control Protocols Draft Standards in Public Review

Two Control Protocols Working Group draft standards have been added to the public review page (http://www.esta.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php) on the

ESTA website: BSR E1.30-1-20xx, EPI 23.

Device Identification Subdevice, and BSR E1.20 - 201x, Entertainment Technology -- Remote Device Management over USITT DMX512. The E1.30 draft document is part of BSR E1.30, Application level equipment interoperability for control of commonly encountered entertainment technology devices using ANSI E1.17. It specifies a templated device for device identification as typically used for remote hardware and software devices. BSR E1.20 - 201x is a revision of the existing ANSI E1.20 - 2006, Entertainment Technology-- Remote Device Management over USITT DMX512. The revision is being done to correct errors in the published document and to add a new message enhancing functionality.

The two documents are in public review through March 29, 2010. When midnight UTC between March 29 and March 30 is reached, the reviews have ended and the links will disappear.

Reviewers are also asked to look for protected intellectual property in the draft standards. ESTA does not intend to adopt any standard that requires the use of protected intellectual property, unless that property is necessary for technical reasons and can be licensed and used by anyone without prejudice or preference for a reasonable fee. Any protected intellectual property should be pointed out in the comments.

Yamaha and Audinate Stage Online Training Sessions for Dante Users

With the Dante-MY16-AUD card for Yamaha's digital mixing products already seeing considerable success, the company is working with manufacturer Audinate to stage two major interactive online seminars, which will provide information and technical support about the card and the Dante protocol in general.

Aimed at end users, audio consultants, rental houses and installation companies, the online seminars - or ‘webinars' - will focus on helping those working with Yamaha digital mixing solutions fitted with the Dante-MY16-AUD card to get the very most from the technology.

These sessions will start by giving an overview of the Dante networking solution, followed by a detailed discussion on installing, configuring and networking multiple Dante-MY16-AUD cards.

Also covered will be how Dante Virtual Soundcard - included with each Dante-MY16-AUD card purchase - can help with multi-track audio recording, and the correct way of connecting each card in its Yamaha host to Dante-enabled devices from other manufacturers.

The sessions will feature clear demonstrations illustrating various steps and will close with a question and answer session, during which Yamaha and Audinate staff will be available to answer any queries.

Hosted by Audinate at the company's headquarters in Australia, the first session will take place on 3rd March, timed for a US audience with a start time of 1pm (west coast) / 4pm (east coast).

The second (identical) session will take place on 4th March and be timed for European audiences, starting at 10am (UK) / 11am (continental Europe). The times of the sessions respectively coincide with early morning and mid-evening in Australia on the 4th March, making either suitable for the Australian audience.

"We are very pleased with how the Dante-MY16-AUD card is already bringing the advantages of the Dante solution to many Yamaha users," says Ashesh Doshi, Director of Marketing at Audinate.

"In working closely with Yamaha, these sessions will serve as a valuable resource for Yamaha customer that have purchased or are considering purchasing the Dante-MY16-AUD card."

Nick Cook, European Marketing Director of Yamaha Commercial Audio Europe adds, "We believe that seamless digital networking is a key part of the future of professional audio and welcome any new development in that field. The Dante-MY16-AUD card is already proving a great success and these seminars will help Yamaha customers to get the most from it."

Two Draft Rigging Standards in Review

BSR E1.6-1-201x, Entertainment Technology - Powered Hoist Systems, and BSR E1.6-2-201x , Entertainment Technology -- Design, Inspection, and Maintenance of Serially Manufactured Electric Chain Hoists for the Entertainment Industry, are available for public review at http://www.esta.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php through 15 February 2010. The reviews are over when the posted "Review End Date" is reached. The draft standards are part of the BSR E1.6 powered theatrical rigging system project. BSR E1.6-1 deals with powered winches that are not serially manufactured electric chain hoists; BSR E1.6-2 deals with powered winches that are.

For more information, please contact: Karl G. Ruling, Technical Standards Manager ESTA, 875 Sixth Avenue, Suite 1005 New York, NY 10001 Tel 1-212-244-1505 standards@esta.org

ESTA Control Protocols Plugfest Returns by Popular Demand!

Last July's Protocols Plugfest was an enormous success for the ESTA Technical Standards program as it attracted many first time attendees who brought several new control products to test and debug control protocol interoperability.

The experience proved invaluable for the attendees as they were given the opportunity to test their products with a wide array of other manufacturers control products on the same network. As the members of the Control Protocols Working Group are also event attendees the Plugfest has become the industries single leading resource in having protocol implementation questions authoritatively answered.

The ESTA Technical Standards Program is organizing another Controls Protocol "plugfest" as part of their January conference. It will be held at the Dallas/Ft. Worth Marriott Solana hotel in Westlake, Texas on: Friday, January 22 from 16:00 to 22:00; Saturday, January 23 from 09:00 to 22:00; and Sunday, January 24 from 09:00 to 14:00. The Control Protocols Plugfest is an informal event where the only people to see the equipment work or fail being engineers and technicians, not customers. The event provides a working protocols lab for manufacturers' engineers to see if their products will co-exist and communicate with the products of other manufacturers, and if required - find out on the spot what is wrong, fix it, and try again.

The ESTA Controls Protocol Working Groups supports the following standards during this event:

ANSI E1.11 - 2008, USITT DMX512-A

ANSI E1.17 - 2006, Architecture for Control Networks (ACN)

ANSI E1.20 - 2006, RDM-Remote Device Management over USITT DMX512 Networks

ANSI E1.31 - 2009, Lightweight streaming protocol for transport of DMX512 using ACN

For more information and to register, contact Scott Blair at sblair@rdmprotocol.org . Registration is required so that the logistics of the equipment delivery, setup, and removal can be properly organized. There is no charge for participation and the event is open to non-members. Hotel reservations may be reserved through the ESTA web site at: www.esta.org/news/hotelreservations.php

ETCP LDI Exam Application Deadline Extended

ETCP is extending the application deadline for the paper and pencil exams being offered at the 2009 LDI show in Orlando, FL. Interested applicants must submit their application, along with supporting materials and fee, to the ETCP office no later than November 2, 2009. Candidates who wish to take multiple exams will receive a discount for the second exam.

The exams will be given as follows:

Entertainment Electrical Exam: November 20, 2009 (2:00 pm)

Arena Rigging: November 21, 2009 (9:00 am)

Theatre Rigging: November 21, 2009 (2:00 pm)

Candidate information, including eligibility requirements and applications, is available on the ETCP website (http://etcp.esta.org), or if you would like the information mailed to you, please contact Meredith Moseley-Bennett, ETCP Certification Manager, at 212-244-1505 or certification@esta.org ETCP Practice Examinations are available online for $35 at www.esta.org/etcppracticeexams

If you apply and are accepted to sit for the exam but end up with a last minute job, you have up to one year to take the exam at a computer testing center or at another paper and pencil administration.

There are now almost 800 ETCP Certified Technicians in North America! ETCP Certification enhances your identity as a competent and knowledgeable leader in the entertainment industry. Don't get left behind, get your application in today!

The ETCP Council members are key leaders drawn from entertainment business, labor, facilities, associations, and academia representing the diversity of the entertainment industry. Membership includes AMPTP, BASE Entertainment, Broadway Across America, The Broadway League, Cirque du Soleil/MGM MIRAGE, CITT, Disney Theatrical Productions, ESTA, IAAM, IATSE, InfoComm, The League, Live Nation, PRG, NBC Universal, SHAPE, TEA, and USITT. ETCP is an ESTA initiative created to promote industry safety.

Revised Fog Effects Standard Available for Public Review

BSR E1.23 - 200x, Entertainment Technology - Design and Execution of Theatrical Fog Effects, is available for public review at http://www.esta.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php through 9 November 2009. The BSR E1.23 project is a revision of the existing ANSI E1.23 - 2006 standard, which offers advice on the planning and execution of theatrical fog effects using glycol, glycerin, or white mineral oil fogs or mists in theatres, arenas, and other places of entertainment or public assembly. The revision project is (1) to change the list of fog chemicals in the scope to better match those chemicals normally used in theatrical fog effects, and (2) to better define the qualifications of those in charge of designing and executing the effects.

In addition to being asked to review the document to see if it offers adequate advice, reviewers are asked to notify ESTA of any protected intellectual property in the draft standard. ESTA does not warrant that its standards contain no protected intellectual property, but it also does not intend to adopt any standard that requires the use of protected intellectual property, unless that property is necessary for technical reasons and can be licensed by anyone without prejudice or preference for a reasonable fee. Any protected intellectual property should be noted on the public review response form.

Comments must be received by the end of the day UTC on November 9. When the "Review End Date" of November 10 starts, the review will be over, and the links on the website to the document, the review form, et cetera will disappear. For more information, please contact: Karl G. Ruling, Technical Standards Manager, ESTA.

standards@esta.org

New Projects for Rigging-Related Standards

At its July 18 meeting ESTA's Rigging Working Group approved the initiation of two new projects:

BSR E1.38 - 20xx, Temporary Ground-Supported Structures Used to Support Equipment in the Production of Outdoor Entertainment Events, Excluding Stage Roofs
BSR E1.39 - 20xx, Entertainment Technology - Recommendations for the Use of Fall Protection on Temporary Suspended and Ground-Supported Structures

BSR E1.38 - 20xx is to establish basic requirements for the structural design, manufacture, use, and maintenance of temporary ground-supported structures used to support equipment, such as video walls, followspot towers, and audio mixing platforms, in the production of outdoor entertainment events. General public access structures, such as food vendor tents and seating bleachers, and also temporary stage roofs that are within the scope of ANSI E1.21, are outside the scope of this standard.

BSR E1.39 - 20xx is intended to establish minimum requirements for the selection and use of personal fall arrest systems on temporary structures in the entertainment industry. It also establishes minimum requirements for manufacturers and owners of these structures being used as work platforms. The purpose of the document is to provide employers and workers methods for protecting workers in the entertainment industry that meet or exceed current standards for industrial fall protection. The usual practices of industrial and construction industry fall protection are difficult to apply to the entertainment industry, but entertainment industry workers need no less protection that workers in other industries.

These two new projects are being announced so that parties who might be materially affected by the development of these standards can be made aware of the work. Anyone interested in personally working on the development of the standards also is invited to join the Rigging Working Group. The Rigging Working Group already has many manufacturer members and the working group is large, but additional voting members who might be in the User or Dealer/Rental Company interest categories would be helpful for balancing the economic interests represented in the voting body of the working group. Information about joining working groups and an application form are available on the ESTA website at http://www.esta.org/tsp/working_groups/index.html.
The projects are also being announced so that people who wish to offer comments for or against the projects may do so. Please send any comments by November 8, 2009 to Karl G. Ruling, ESTA's Technical Standards Manager, at standards@esta.org.
For more information, please contact: Karl G. Ruling, Technical Standards Manager ESTA, 875 Sixth Avenue, Suite 1005, New York, NY 10001, 212-244-1505
standards@esta.org

Revised RDM Available for Review

BSR E1.20 - 200x, a revision of the existing ANSI E1.20 - 2006, Entertainment Technology -- Remote Device Management over USITT DMX512, is available for public review on the ESTA website through October 19, 2009. The draft standard and its supporting public review materials are available at http://www.esta.org/tsp/documents/public_review_docs.php.

BSR E1.20 - 200x, Entertainment Technology--Remote Device Management over USITT DMX512, is a project to revise the existing RDM standard, ANSI E1.20 - 2006. There are some errors in the published document that need to be corrected, and some issues about proxy devices that need to be clarified. The review materials include the revised standard, a listing of the errors that are being addressed, and, as background information, the resolutions to the comments received during the previous public review of the draft standard. The intention of the revision project is to correct errors, not to change the existing functionality of RDM.

Please note that the ESTA website shows a Review End Date of October 20. The review has ended when that day is reached. Comments should be submitted before that date.

In addition to being asked to review the document to see if it offers adequate advice, reviewers are asked to look for protected intellectual property in the draft standard. ESTA does not warrant that its standards contain no protected intellectual property, but it also does not intend to adopt any standard that requires the use of protected intellectual property, unless that property is necessary for technical reasons and can be licensed and used by anyone without prejudice or preference for a reasonable fee. Any protected intellectual property in the document should be pointed out in the comments.

For more information about the public review, please contact: Karl G. Ruling, Technical Standards Manager, ESTA, 875 Sixth Avenue, Suite 1005, New York, NY 10001 1-212-244-1505 Fax 1-212-244-1502

standards@esta.org

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